5 episodes
The Kids of Rutherford County Serial
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- True Crime
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4.1 • 202 Ratings
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From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South.
For over a decade, one Tennessee county arrested and illegally jailed hundreds, maybe thousands, of children. A four-part narrative series reveals how this came to be, the adults responsible for it, and the two lawyers, former juvenile delinquents themselves, who try to do something about it.
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Episode 1: The Egregious Video
A police officer in Rutherford County, Tenn., sees a video of little kids fighting, and decides to investigate. This leads to the arrest of 11 kids for watching the fight. The arrests do not go smoothly.
From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South. -
Episode 2: What the Hell Are You People Doing?
A young lawyer named Wes Clark can’t get the Rutherford County juvenile court to let his clients out of detention — even when the law says they shouldn’t have been held in the first place. He’s frustrated and demoralized, until he makes a friend.
From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South. -
Episode 3: Would You Like to Sue the Government?
Wes Clark reads a telling line in a police report about how Rutherford County’s juvenile justice system really works. He and his law partner Mark Downton realize they have a massive class action on their hands.
From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South. -
Episode 4: Dedicated Public Servants
The lawyers settle with the county, which agrees to pay the kids who were wrongfully arrested and illegally jailed; the hard part is actually getting the kids paid.
From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South. -
Trailer
For over a decade, one Tennessee county arrested and illegally jailed hundreds, maybe thousands, of children. A four-part narrative series reveals how this came to be, the adults responsible for it, and the two lawyers, former juvenile delinquents themselves, who try to do something about it.
From Serial Productions and The New York Times in partnership with ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio, “The Kids of Rutherford County” is reported and hosted by Meribah Knight, a Peabody-award winning reporter based in the South. Get it everywhere you get your podcasts on Thursday, October 26th.
Customer Reviews
Vocal fry really takes away from this
Great podcast, interesting subject matter, audio is done using multiple sources so keeps the reader enthralled. Story makes you feel involved the way it’s told.
I’d give it five stars save for the absolutely terrible vocal fry.
The host is trying WAY too hard with her vocal fry during the voiceover parts. When you hear her talking to interviewees, no vocal fry, during voiceover, vocal fry is dialled to 11 and it’s almost unbearable.
Stop the fry!
Vocal fry
I really really wanted to enjoy this. The story is interesting, but the vocal fry stopped me after the first episode. I’ve never had an issue with vocal fry before, but this host literally gave me a headache listening to her.
I would love to listen to this podcast if someone else could re-record her part
Bingeworthy
This podcast is compelling and well-researched. I can’t believe this is actually a true story. Disgusting that Donna Davenport was allowed to retire on her own terms and has faced zero consequences for the harm she caused to literal children.