Send us a text This season of Smart Justice has explored the complexities of juvenile justice, the efforts to straighten the curves of the next generation's lives, and the solutions that are being developed to make a real change in Arkansas. In this final bonus episode, Paul Chapman is joined by some of the prominent voices from throughout this season including the Arkansas Department of Human Services Secretary Kristi Putnam, who first suggested that we explore juvenile justice. Want to learn m...
Jun 12, 2025•47 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Send us a text Imagine being 15 years old, handcuffed, and sitting in a detention cell with no idea what comes next. For Emma (not her real name), this became her reality—not once, but eight times. Her journey from childhood trauma through addiction and into the juvenile justice system reveals how quickly vulnerable youth can spiral when their basic needs go unmet. "You don't know how you're going to respond to somebody spitting in your face until somebody spits in your face," says Charles Parki...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Send us a text Loss and disconnection lie at the heart of juvenile crime and substance abuse. That's the powerful message from those working on the frontlines of youth justice, including Crystal Davis, who transformed her life after 26 years of addiction to mentor young people in detention. "The biggest reason that I've seen is loss—the loss of a family member, the loss of a parent, either to death, divorce, drugs," explains Davis, whose own journey into substance abuse began at age 12. Now she ...
May 29, 2025•45 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Send us a text What if there was a smarter way to approach juvenile justice? One that identifies troubled youth before they commit serious crimes and connects them with resources instead of sending them to detention? Kevin Hunt knows firsthand how easily young people can slip into criminal behavior. Growing up in Little Rock during the notorious "Banging in the Rock" era, Hunt started with stealing coins from fountains before escalating to purse snatching and eventually more serious crimes. Desp...
May 22, 2025•30 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Send us a text This is not just a story about youth crime—it’s a story about what’s possible when we stop asking ‘what’s wrong with them?’ and start asking ‘what happened to them?’ In this episode of Smart Justice , we explore what it means to change the game plan for youth on the edge. We hear powerful testimony from former gang member Antoine Jones, who lost his daughter to gun violence. He shares his journey from the streets to prison, revealing how the absence of family structure drives many...
May 15, 2025•30 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Send us a text What happens when a community decides to reimagine juvenile justice? Across Arkansas, dedicated professionals are discovering that evidence-based interventions not only reduce crime but transform lives and strengthen communities. Meet Amber Govan, who at just eight years old learned sign language to facilitate her father's drug deals. Her path seemed predetermined—drug dealing, homelessness, and violence marked her early years. But when a high school teacher took interest in her s...
May 08, 2025•44 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Send us a text When young people find themselves isolated and without essential support systems, they go down some dangerous paths. Many communities around the nation are seeing a rise in violent crime among youth—and it’s more serious than ever. We take you inside the crisis and highlight solutions. You’ll hear from prosecutors, judges, outreach workers, and teens who’ve lived it. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic — as schools closed, community programs were disrupted, and families found the...
May 08, 2025•31 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Send us a text Many communities across Arkansas are seeing an uptick in youth crime, especially violent offenses. We travel the state to talk to judges, law enforcement, juveniles in the system, and others to examine what's happening, solutions being implemented, and how we can continue to improve outcomes for families going forward. Subscribe on your favorite platform. Season 4 dives deep—real stories, bold solutions, and the voices shaping justice in Arkansas. The season drops May 8, 2025. Exe...
Apr 24, 2025•1 min
Send us a text Ever wondered how early childhood experiences shape a lifetime? Dr. Sufna John from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences gives her profound insights into infant and early childhood mental health. This special bonus episode kicks off with a compelling discussion on the real-world impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and PTSD. Dr. John’s expertise sheds light on the importance of understanding and addressing trauma to foster genuine compassion and create better ...
Sep 12, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Send us a text Interested in becoming a foster parent? Find info here Every Child Arkansas Read the SmartJustice Season 3 magazine Welcome to season 3 of SmartJustice we're calling 'A Chance At Life'. This season we focus on the well-being and future of children, youth and families in the child welfare system. In this final episode we talk with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and DHS Secretary Kristi Putnam about Executive Order to Protect Children, Support Families, and Improve Foster Care. And...
Nov 21, 2023•35 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Send us a text Guests Judge Troy Braswell and Project Zero Executive Director Christie Erwin. If you would like to explore adoption visit https://theprojectzero.org/index.php Emmy award winning film maker Nathan Willis is a long time partner with Project Zero to help find waiting children the right forever home. https://nathanwillisfilms.com/about https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectZero1/videos Support the show [Website]: https://smartjustice.org/ [YouTube]: https://www.youtube.com/@wewillrestoreho...
Oct 25, 2023•49 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Send us a text Interested in becoming a foster parent? Find info at Every Child Arkansas . Want to support a foster family? In this episode we talk with Darneshia Allen with Zero to Three , Christen Butler with The CALL , Dr. Derek Brown with Arkansas Baptist Children and Family Ministries , Pastor Chris Massey with Fellowship Bible Church Searcy, and Dennis Berry, foster parent and The CALL board member. Hosts Dr. Andrew Baker with Harding University and Paul Chapman with Restore Hope . Read th...
Oct 17, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Send us a text Guests Allie Graves Christen Butler - Executive Director The CALL Dr. Derek Brown - Executive Director Arkansas Baptist Children and Family Ministries Dennis Berry Interested in becoming a foster parent? Find info here Every Child Arkansas Read the SmartJustice Season 3 magazine Welcome to season 3 of SmartJustice we're calling 'A Chance At Life'. This season we focus on the well-being and future of children, youth and families in the child welfare system. Restore Hope https://www...
Oct 11, 2023•45 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Send us a text Interested in becoming a foster parent? Find info here Every Child Arkansas Read the SmartJustice Season 3 magazine Guests Jeff Piker Skye Mitchell Mahogany Smith Licia Etheridge Devin Singh In this episode we talk with Children and Family Services staff and community leaders in Russellville, AR about supporting families during and after child welfare cases. They share how their community is collaborating in a new way and seeing better outcomes for families. Restore Hope https://w...
Oct 04, 2023•41 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Send us a text Interested in becoming a foster parent? Find info here Every Child Arkansas Read the SmartJustice Season 3 magazine Welcome to season 3 of SmartJustice we're calling 'A Chance At Life'. This season we focus on the well-being and future of children, youth and families in the child welfare system. In this edition, we spotlight visionary individuals who are reshaping the system and breathing new life into the concept of care and support. In February of 2023, Governor Sanders issued a...
Sep 27, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Send us a text We talk with Arkansas' Attorney General about Community Diversion and a Representative from Fort Smith where the courts, law enforcement, and community providers are usually connected in innovative ways. The way forward is to run a pilot 'Community Diversion' program in around 10 different courts to define common measures and procedures and then assess outcomes across a broad range of factors including litigant substance use, housing, employment, and ability to satisfy unresolved ...
Feb 28, 2023•35 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Send us a text Many Arkansans in prison and/or with children in the child welfare system started their legal engagement with misdemeanor crimes like traffic tickets, driving with no insurance, or theft. Community Diversion in District Courts is a key move to prevent future incarceration and/or foster care. In Crawford Co the District Court and Adult Ed have co-located to create a one-stop resource center. This unique situation has impacted hundreds of people who found their way out of crisis int...
Feb 08, 2023•36 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Send us a text Many Arkansans in prison and/or with children in the child welfare system started their legal engagement with misdemeanor crimes like traffic tickets, driving with no insurance, or theft. Community Diversion in District Courts is a key move to prevent future incarceration and/or foster care. In this episode we talk with law enforcement and prosecutors. It is our hope to see the expansion of Community Diversion to all Arkansas District Courts. Support the show [Website]: https://sm...
Feb 01, 2023•40 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Send us a text Many Arkansans in prison and/or with children in the child welfare system started their legal engagement with misdemeanor crimes like traffic tickets, driving with no insurance, or theft. Community Diversion in District Courts is a key move to prevent future incarceration and/or foster care. In this episode we hear from participants in diversion programs. It is our hope to see the expansion of Community Diversion to all Arkansas District Courts. Support the show [Website]: https:/...
Jan 25, 2023•36 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Send us a text Many Arkansans in prison and/or with children in the child welfare system started their legal engagement with misdemeanor crimes like traffic tickets, driving with no insurance, or theft. Community Diversion in District Courts is a key move to prevent future incarceration and/or foster care. In this episode we talk with Judges who operate diversion programs. It is our hope to see the expansion of Community Diversion to all Arkansas District Courts. Support the show [Website]: http...
Jan 18, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Send us a text Many Arkansans in prison and/or with children in the child welfare system started their legal engagement with misdemeanor crimes like traffic tickets, driving with no insurance, or theft. Some District Court Judges are taking steps to provide access to services that address root issues that might lead to incarceration and/or foster care for their children. Season 2 focuses on how these courts are improving public safety by addressing problems 'upstream' from felony crime and/or fo...
Jan 10, 2023•32 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Send us a text All communities work on criminal justice and child welfare issues but few have real systems change. You may have the right people and organizations, but if you don't get 5 things right you'll not make the change you're working so hard to make. In the season one final episode we discuss the impact a growing number of Arkansas communities are having by implementing the collective impact methodology of system change. Season 1 of SmartJustice: To improve outcomes in complex problems a...
Oct 12, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Send us a text Childhood trauma doesn't excuse bad behavior and crime, but it helps in understanding 'why' which is important in the creation of more successful interventions that yield better ROI for our communities. To improve outcomes in complex problems around child welfare, incarceration, and crime we journey upstream to examine the Family as the institution we should Interviewed: Circuit Court Judge Shanice Johnson Clinical Phycologist Dr Rose Smith Restore Hope A.D. of Community Developme...
Oct 05, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Send us a text To improve outcomes in complex problems around child welfare, incarceration, and crime we journey upstream to examine the Family as the institution we should protect and seek to strengthen. Interviewed: Department of Children and Family Services Mischa Martin Chairperson of Parent Counsel and Harding University professor Dr Andrew Baker Tenth District Circuit Court Judge Shanice Johnson Restore Hope Community Development Manager Karen Phillips 100 Families White Co Coordinator Dan...
Sep 27, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Send us a text Support the show [Website]: https://smartjustice.org/ [YouTube]: https://www.youtube.com/@wewillrestorehope [Spotify + Apple + More]: https://smartjustice.buzzsprout.com/1213400/follow [Facebook]: https://www.facebook.com/restorehopearkansas [LinkedIn]: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restore-hope-arkansas [Instagram]: https://www.instagram.com/restorehope.io/...
Sep 22, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Send us a text Substance Abuse is a common factor in Arkansas Child Welfare and Criminal Justice cases. In this episode we interview State leaders and those with life experience with substance abuse and the justice system. There is hope. Interviewed: Department of Children and Family Services Mischa Martin Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane Director of Peer Recovery Services Jimmy McGill Parole Board Chairman John Felts Amanda and Patrick Myer Restore Hope Director of Operations Karen Phillips Res...
Sep 13, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Send us a text To improve outcomes in complex problems around child welfare, incarceration, and crime we journey upstream to examine the Family as the institution best able to prevent / help people recover from involvement in the justice and child welfare systems. Interviewed: Department of Children and Family Services Mischa Martin Chairperson of Parent Counsel and Harding University professor Dr Andrew Baker Sith District Circuit Judge Shanice Johnson Arkansas Advocates for Children and Famili...
Sep 07, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 1
