Choices and Change

Choices and Change offers a gripping portrait of the challenges faced by students and staff at A New Day — a juvenile justice program in Durham, North Carolina during the 2002-2003 school year.

Documentary  •  2004  •  39 minutes   •   4×3   •  English

Although grounded in the realities of juvenile justice issues and legislation when the film was produced, the core issues of how best to serve and support young people in the juvenile justice system resonate in our communities today. Choices and Change makes a compelling case for supporting community alternatives in our juvenile justice system and explores the social, economic, and institutional forces impacting young people at risk of delinquency and school failure. The film emerged out of youth video workshops taught by filmmaker Kenny Dalsheimer. Choices And Change conveys a message of hope through its thoughtful use of student video and writing and the keen insights of teachers, social workers and juvenile justice advocates.

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Reviews

This documentary is a powerful advocacy film for many of the wonderful community-based juvenile justice programs across North Carolina and the U.S. I encourage my fellow state legislators to see this film, because it suggests a way that states can become 'smart on crime'.

Choices and Change should be seen by every state legislator, members of the Governor's Crime Commission the Governor, the local Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils and anybody else wanting to support our most at-risk youth. The film offers a more powerful message than any thing I have seen about this issue. In a nutshell, what Dalsheimer has done is brilliant. The film brings to life what I see every day in court.