Sentenced to Life at Just 13 Years Old
What kind of system gives a child a life sentence?
In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Ian, who at just thirteen years old was tried as an adult for a non‑homicide offense and sentenced to life in prison.
This conversation goes beyond one case. It examines the structure of the justice system—where children, particularly Black and Brown youth, are disproportionately treated as adults, perceived as more dangerous, and denied the protections of childhood.
Together, they explore what it means for a developing brain to be told its life is already over, how identity is…
The skinny
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