In the United States, two institutions guide teenagers on the journey to adulthood: college and prison. Sociologist Alice Goffman spent six years in a troubled Philadelphia neighborhood and saw first-hand how teenagers of African-American and Latino backgrounds are funneled down the path to prison — sometimes starting with relatively minor infractions. In an impassioned talk she asks, "Why are we offering only handcuffs and jail time?"

Alice Goffman: How we're priming some kids for college — and others for prison

How we're priming some kids for college — and others for prison

America's dual path to adulthood: college ignites excitement and potential; prison, however, brands youth with a lifelong stigma.

A 700% surge in incarceration over 40 years disproportionately impacts poor, minority communities, severing their American Dream.

Envisioning a just future: Calls for a criminal justice system focused on recovery and inclusion rather than punishment gain momentum.