The UN Declaration on the Rights of the Child exists to protect children; however, the U.S. has not ratified it. Although in the U.S., the number of youth in custody has declined by over 70% since 2000 (Nam-Sonestein & Sayer, 2025), UNICEF reported 259,000 children were in detention globally in 2024 (UNICEF, 2025). The outcomes of youth imprisonment are damaging. Daykin (2017) asserts that the well-being of youth residing in juvenile detention centers is compromised which may lead to further incarceration. The John Howard Society (2020) notes asserts that youth need immediate supports as soon as they are charged, thereby drawing the youth away from a justice system that inflicts harm towards responses that address their needs.Incarceration damages youths’ physical and mental health particularly because it occurs during deep neurological growth (Mendel, 2023). The John Howard Society (2020) recommends diversion programs for youth that incorporate community-based alternatives, as also suggested by the Government of Canada Youth Criminal Justice Act (2002). Vincent Schiraldi (2017) suggests all youth prisons should be replaced with home-like, small facilities and a network of community-based programs.Music education is a community-based program used with youth in conflict with the law. This panel will describe various approaches in working with youth who are in conflict with the law from Brazil, Canada, the U.S., and highlighting other programs across the globe. From Community Music Schools of Toronto, Dr. Bina John and Dr. Richard Marsella will provide background on the program they started nearly ten years ago with justice-involved youth.We acknowledge the systemic difficulties in schools, noting critical thinkers such as Bettina Love (2019; 2023), and Jenna Queenan and Pam Segura () who challenge us to move away from a punishment or scarcity mindset toward freedom dreaming. We are curious how music-making with youth in conflict with the law can break the school to prison nexus. We explore the potential of music-making programs for youth in conflict with the law toward positive transformation inside and outside detention centers.Panelists include Dr. Mary Cohen (University of Iowa, USA), whose work leading the Oakdale Prison Community Choir, co-leading weekly music groups at a local juvenile detention center, and studying music-making in prisons has helped her understand the possibilities of prison abolition; Dr. Bina John (University of Toronto, Canada), who researches the psychosocial impact of music; Dr. Richard Marsella (Community Music Schools of Toronto, Canada), a practitioner-scholar focused on community-based music initiatives; and Dr. Murilo Rezende, a specialist in socio-education, with a focus on music within the Brazilian Federal District working with youth in juvenile detention centers in Brasilia. Together, we will share case studies, pedagogical approaches, and ethical considerations from our respective regions.The discussion will highlight how music-making can serve as a vehicle for well-being, emotional expression, agency, and connection, while also addressing systemic barriers and the need for cross-sector collaboration. Attendees will gain insights into program design, evaluation, and the broader implications of music education within youth justice systems.By showcasing international models and centering youth voices, this panel aims to inspire dialogue and action toward more inclusive, restorative, and culturally responsive music education practices.