Republica Havas Reveals the Child Behind "A Minor Crime" for Amigos for Kids

Apr. 29, 2026

Children who grow up without protection, guidance, or love are nine times more likely to become involved in criminal activity as adults. Nine times. Yet, as a society, we often treat crime as an endpoint rather than a symptom. We invest heavily in prisons, courts, and enforcement, and those systems matter. But far less attention is paid to what comes before: in the home, in the child, in the family that needs support.

That disconnection between neglected child and adult offender sits at the heart of A Minor Crime, a poignant new campaign created by Republica Havas for Amigos For Kids, launched this April during National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

For more than three decades, Amigos For Kids has provided early intervention, family support, and positive parenting programs to South Florida families before situations reach a breaking point. The campaign arrives as the nonprofit marks its 35th anniversary, a milestone that makes its central message even clearer: the earlier we intervene, the better the outcome for children and the communities we share.

The campaign unfolds across three audio spots, The Visit, The Verdict, and The Interrogatory. Each begins inside the criminal justice system, a counselor, a jury, a voice of authority. The listener expects an adult response.

Instead, they hear a child.

Not reflective. Not remorseful. Defiant. Disrespectful. Unfiltered.

The contrast is deliberate, placing a child’s voice in spaces reserved for adult offenders and collapsing the distance between who we judge and who they once were. The tagline says it plainly: Inside every adult criminal is a hurt child.

Jorge A. Plasencia, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Republica Havas, and Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Amigos For Kids said:

"At Republica Havas, we believe creativity can drive meaningful change. A Minor Crime was created to confront a truth often overlooked, that too many adult offenders were once children who lacked protection, guidance, and support. The campaign reflects a reality I have witnessed for decades through Amigos For Kids. When children are supported early, outcomes change. If we want to address crime meaningfully, we must start with the child."

 

Federico Hauri, Executive Creative Director, Republica Havas said:

“We wanted to create something you couldn’t easily ignore. Sound is uniquely intimate. It pulls you in. The moment that child’s voice comes through, the distance disappears. That is where we wanted people to be, in that uncomfortable space between who society has written off and who they were before anyone stepped in. That is where prevention lives."

 

Karina Pavone, President and CEO of Amigos For Kids said:

"At Amigos For Kids, we see every day what happens when families don’t receive support early enough. This is not theoretical for us—it reflects the reality of the children and families we serve. We are grateful to Republica Havas for bringing this message to life in such a powerful and compelling way. When we invest in children and support parents early, we can change life trajectories and interrupt cycles that would otherwise lead to far more serious outcomes. Prevention is not abstract—it’s practical, it’s urgent, and it’s how we create lasting change for our community."

 

A Minor Crime will run across audio and digital platforms throughout April.