NCJ Number
165295
Date Published
1997
Length
112 pages
Annotation
Four adolescents who were sent to prison at an early age discuss their life in prison and their hopes for the future; the volume also presents an overview of the juvenile justice system
Abstract
Maniac was abused and neglected as a child. He was first arrested at age 13 and sent to a juvenile prison. After a few years in a group home he joined a gang, began selling drugs, and was arrested again at age 17. Martin had loving and supportive parents. Nevertheless, he joined a gang. He was selling drugs and committing robberies at age 15. He was arrested for burglarizing a house. Kara ran away frequently as an adolescent. She ran away from her mother, with whom she often fought, and from a series of group homes, foster homes, and shelters. Eventually she was placed under house arrest with electronic surveillance. Marvin was a drug dealer as early as fifth grade. He was often expelled from school for fighting and became involved in gang life and drug dealing as a teenager. Marvin and Kara have changed their lives as a result of the programs they received in the juvenile justice system; both are attending school. The situations of Martin and Maniac are unknown. Annotated list of resource organizations, photographs, and index