Before They Were Criminals- Children who Commit Violent Crimes

Mission Unstoppable

Frankie Picasso and her guest, Dr. Smith, a renowned expert in child and adolescent development and the author of Before Their Crimes: What We’re Misunderstanding About Childhood Trauma, Youth Crime, and the Path to Healing, joins Frankie for an eye-opening conversation about Children who commit heinous crimes and how they arrive at that juncture in their lives. Were they born bad? Are their parents or lack of, at fault? Do we owe our children ( by our I mean society) an apology for letting them down?

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—the hidden wounds shaping lives and, in some cases, leading to tragic outcomes are real. Bad things happen to a lot of us, but they don't always result in us killing someone. Why them and not us?

With 35 years of clinical practice and academic leadership at USC’s Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Dr. Smith unpacks the science and soul behind the choices children make under the weight of toxic stress and trauma.

She candidly addresses:

✔️ Why some children commit unthinkable acts

✔️ How our stress response systems can be permanently altered

✔️ The role environment plays in shaping behavior

✔️ What true healing from trauma looks like—and how it can begin

And yes, the Menendez Brothers’ recent bid for resentencing is part of the conversation—offering timely context to a national conversation about justice, trauma, and what we owe the youngest among us.