Kymyada, a teen mother, is arrested on runaway charges after her mother and her godmother can't locate her after a night of partying with friends. Kymyada maintains this is all a misunderstanding, but her mother believes Kymyada needs more structure in her life. Even though most parents beg to get their kids out of juvie, Kymyada isn't so lucky. On the witness stand, her mom says it's time for Kymyada to show more respect and refuses to take her home. This leaves judge Mary Beth Bonaventura with few options on what to do with this teenage mom. KEVINKevin has already served 99 days of what he thought was a 30-day detention. Now, he's at the end of his rope. Despondent one day after having trouble reaching his mom on the phone, Kevin snaps. When a “Code Green†is called to bring the situation under control, Kevin wonders if he'll ever get out of juvie.
From the confines of America's juvenile detention facilities to the razor wire of juvenile prison to the heart pounding juvenile courtroom hearings where everything is on the line, Cradle To Jail explores where juvenile crime begins, how it evolves, and what's at stake for kids, families and professionals in the system.