NCJ Number
54919
Date Published
1975
Length
0 pages
Annotation
USING THE CASE OF A JUVENILE INCARCERATED AT HIS PARENTS' REQUEST BECAUSE HE WAS 'INCORRIGIBLE,' AND WHO THEN COMMITTED SUICIDE IN PRISON, THIS FILM DEPICTS THE HORRORS OF PRISON AND INEQUITIES OF JUVENILE JUSTICE.
Abstract
THROUGH A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH INMATES, CORRECTIONAL STAFF, CORRECTIONS MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL, AND WITH THE PARENTS OF BOBBY NESTOR, THE COMMENTATOR DRAWS A PICTURE OF BOBBY AND OF THE JUVENILE LIKELY TO BE PUT INTO PRISON--A BOY WHO IS REGULARLY IN TROUBLE IN SCHOOL, WITH HIS PARENTS, AND WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR MINOR AND/OR STATUS OFFENSES. INSTEAD OF PROTECTING AND REHABILITATING THESE YOUNG INMATES, PRISON STAFF KEEP THE JUVENILES IN THE SAME UNITS WITH OLDER, MORE HARDENED CRIMNALS AND ALLOW THEM TO MINGLE DURING WORK AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. AS A RESULT, THE JUVENILES LEARN ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR FROM HABITUAL CRIMINALS AND LEARN TO FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL IN AN INMATE CULTURE FULL OF RIGID RULES AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL TERROR. BOBBY NESTOR WAS SENT TO CAMP HILL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION (PA.) 'TO LEARN A LESSON,' AND FOLLOWING FOUR AND ONE-HALF MONTHS OF INCARCERATION, HUNG HIMSELF AFTER BEING GANG-RAPED BY ADULT INMATES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT OPTIONS TO IMPRISONMENT--SMALL, CARING INSTITUTIONS--ARE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR JUVENILES CONVICTED OF MINOR OFFENSES, SINCE IMPRISONMENT IS NOT WORKING AND IS COSTLY ($12,000-20,000 A YEAR PER CHILD). (DAG)