NCJ Number
52423
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
SHOT IN SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON, CALIF., THIS FILM SHOWS A GROUP OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IN WORKSHOPS LEAD BY THE SQUIRES, AN ORGANIZATION OF LONG-TERM INMATES COMMITTED TO DIVERTING HARDCORE JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE SQUIRES SUBSCRIBE TO A VOLUNTARY CHARTER TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY COUNSELING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENTERED THE SORT OF CRIMINAL SPIRAL THAT BROUGHT MANY OF THEM TO THEIR OWN LONG SENTENCES IN SAN QUENTIN. THROUGH DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVES TO FUTURE INCARCERATION, THE SQUIRES EDUCATE THE JUVENILES CONCERNING THE NATURE OF LIFE IN SAN QUENTIN AND EMPHASIZE THAT SENTENCE TO SUCH A PRISON IS THE UNAVOIDABLE END-PRODUCT OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT. THE FILM SHOWS THE CHANGES IN ATTITUDES THAT OCCUR IN THE YOUNG PEOPLE DURING THE 3-WEEKEND WORKSHOPS, THE CONFRONTATIONS AND EMOTIONAL CONFLICTS, AND DISCUSSIONS OF THE POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE THE INMATES WISHED THEY HAD SELECTED. PRISON VIOLENCE AND HOMOSEXUALITY ARE UNDERSCORED.