Traumatic experiences and adverse childhood experiences or ACE's shape our community's youth. The Raphah Institute is an organization that is working to help youth offenders and their victims heal from non-violent crimes before charges are ever filed. 

"If incarceration made us safer the United States would be the safest nation in the history of any civilization," Raphah Institute CEO Travis Claybrooks said. 

One way of keeping non violent youth out of the criminal system is through the Raphah Institute's Restorative Justice Diversion Program, when youth who are arrested for certain felonies have the opportunity to meet and talk with the victims they've harmed. Together they work to heal and move forward. 

Claybrooks discusses why this program was implemented in Davidson County and it's impact on our community's youth with Roots and Wings host, Jonquil Newland.