Jeremy Persaud on Youth Crime, Jail Realities, and Building a Way Out

In this episode, I sit down with Jeremy Persaud, CEO of A1 Films and founder of The Commitment Program, who grew up in Toronto housing, entered the justice system at 14, and later pled guilty to firearm charges. Instead of letting prison define him, he turned survival into purpose, building a grassroots movement to steer youth away from the cycle of violence and incarceration.

Jeremy shares what it feels like to grow up believing “your own existence is illegal.” He opens up about crash-out culture, recidivism traps, and why so many youth feel forced to carry guns just to stay alive.

We explore how parole conditions, what rehabilitation actually looks like, and why early community support matters more than punishment. From jail workouts that turned into a youth program, to workshops on financial literacy and know-your-rights, Jeremy shows how resilience and leadership can break the cycle.