CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The first time Ty Cooper saw the documentary film “Juvies,” directed by Leslie Neal, in 2005, he had a strong emotional response.
“Tears came out [of] my eyes,” he said. “I was like, ‘Yo, this is crazy,’ and I really had this like moment.”
The film focuses on 12 juveniles in the criminal justice system who have been tried as adults and brought attention to the growing trend of juveniles tried as adults in the United States. Now 22 years after its initial release, Cooper, Festival Director of the Indie Short Film Festival, is screening the film for the Charlottesville community to raise awareness of the issue…