In response to school shootings executed by minors in America, prosecutors are pursuing charges—not just against the perpetrators, but—against the parents of these shooters, especially when their children have access to guns under their supervision. In this episode, Professor of Law Cynthia Godsoe and Assistant Professor of Law Shanta Trivedi discuss their recent piece, Parenting as a Crime, which unpacks why these prosecutions are legally unsound and largely driven by public pressure and emotion. In drawing upon their experiences as former attorneys in the juvenile and child welfare/family policing systems, Professor Godsoe and Trivedi discuss why prosecuting parents will, if anything, make children and society feel less safe. This episode was recorded in September 2025.
Host, Script, Transcript: Juliette Draper (Volume 114 Podcast Editor)
Production: Jonah Smith (Volume 115 Senior Technology Editor); Petra Hilton (Volume 115 Technology Editor)
Soundtrack: Composed and Performed by Carter Jansen (Volume 110 Technology Editor)
Introductory Quote: Judge Thelton E. Henderson
