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A lot has changed since last year, when "Primetime" met four teens in Arizona's Department of Juvenile Corrections safe schools. Here are some updates on them.
Giving Birth in Jail
Casey used her time in corrections to prepare for the moment she'd give birth to her daughter.
"I'm going to be having a girl. And her name's going to be Emily Renee," she said.
Read Casey's Story: A Child Means a Chance
to Start Over
After eight hours of labor, Emily Renee, all 8 pounds and 21
inches of her, was born. For Casey, Emily became the living hope
for a better future.
At first, the baby had to sleep at her grandmother's house, as mom remained locked in a cinder block cell 15 miles away.
Today Casey and Emily Renee live together on the outside, and the teenage father is also still in the picture.
Things are changing for the better for Casey and her new family. She's working, completing her General Educational Development Test, or GED, and plans to start college in the fall.
"Before, like, my problem was getting high, and like she's my high now," Casey said. "Like, I'm afraid if I get high or something I'll be like I can't take care of her, so that's one of the reasons why I stay clean and I've done good. And I just, I don't know, she's everything to me now!"
Getting Back on His Feet
For Jesse, the last three years of his life have been all about hope. He's re-entered society with a new belief that he is better than his past. "Instead of taking away from this world, instead of hurting, I am now giving back and helping," Jesse said.
Everything is going according to plan for Jesse. He moved to upstate New York to live with his family. He's working in a sporting goods store.
Read Jesse's
Story: Convicted of Manslaughter
He said he's excited to have his freedom back and to be able to
make his own decisions again.
Most important, Jesse said, he's focusing on himself right now. "I'm not going to have kids till I'm near 30. Because I want to make sure that everything is ready. That if this kid comes into my life, I'll have everything that the child needs."
Jesse plans to start college in the spring.
Last Chance
We also checked back with Conrad. For Conrad, first came adult jail and then adult court. He faced outstanding charges for breaking into cars. But Conrad claimed he was just the lookout. h
Read Conrad's Story: This Kid's Rap Sheet is Taller Than He Is
After a weeklong trial, the jury found him not guilty of burglary. So Conrad has won one more chance.
He's now back home with his family trying to earn his GED and staying out of trouble. He'll turn 18 in September.
Taking and Giving Life
Last is Ashley, the 16-year-old who was charged with disorderly conduct and sent to the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections' Black Canyon School.At first, things went well for Ashley -- she even had a boyfriend in her life. But then her old demons resurfaced.
Read Ashley's Story: Angry Teen Works to Overcome Roots of Self-Hate
Ashley said she got a call from someone she didn't want to talk to. She heard some harsh words from her three-time convicted felon father, words that shattered her fragile confidence.
"He told me that he wanted nothing to do with me, that I was worthless," Ashley said.
That pushed Ashley to make her eighth suicide attempt.
"After I got off the phone with him, I went in the bathroom, got two or three bottles of pills and started taking them. I wanted to die. I wanted it all to end," Ashley said.
Ashley, desperate to be loved and to give love, repeated a cycle and became a teenage parent.
She gave birth to 7 pound, 7 ounce boy, Joshua David, choosing a biblical name that suggests a calling to overcome
"I'm gonna give my baby everything that my mom couldn't give me," Ashley said.
He was born just two days before her high school graduation, where she received a presidential scholarship for college. Like the rest of us, these kids can't control the circumstances they were born into. Many of them won't overcome those circumstances. But whether it was the success of the Arizona system or just the eternal optimism of youth, every one of these kids held a ray of hope. All of them wanted to change.
PrimeTime Awards for the series (click here)