Kids for Cash

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/no-one-listened-because-we-were-kids-inside-nations-shocking-kids-cash-juvenile?akid=11477.129638.WasncC&rd=1&src=newsletter954787&t=9

February 4, 2014 |


This piece originally appeared on Democracy Now! and is reprinted here with their permission.

"Today a special on "kids for cash," the shocking story of how thousands of children in Pennsylvania were jailed by two corrupt judges who received $2.6 million in kickbacks from the builders and owners of private prison facilities. We hear from two of the youth: Charlie Balasavage was sent to juvenile detention after his parents unknowingly bought him a stolen scooter; Hillary Transue was detained for creating a MySpace page mocking her assistant high school principal. They were both 14 years old and were sentenced by the same judge, Judge Mark Ciavarella, who is now in jail himself — serving a 28-year sentence. Balasavage and Transue are featured in the new documentary, "Kids for Cash," by filmmaker Robert May, who also joins us. In addition, we speak to two mothers: Sandy Fonzo, whose son Ed Kenzakoski committed suicide after being imprisoned for years by Judge Ciavarella, and Hillary’s mother, Laurene Transue. Putting their stories into context of the larger scandal is attorney Robert Schwartz, executive director of the Juvenile Law Center. The story is still developing: In October, the private juvenile-detention companies in the scandal settled a civil lawsuit for $2.5 million..."

(videos & transcript)

(And don't think it's not happening elsewhere...)

I'm still following the Dozier School For Boys story where they are continuing to dig up these boys bodies. Much more than was ever recorded.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/cadaver-dogs-helping-with-search-for-bodies-at-dozier-school/2164173

From April, 2013:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/in-marianna-dig-for-truth-encounters-desire-to-keep-past-buried/2114932

The entire criminal justice needs to be slowly reduced where the profit from crime is removed from a system which rewards a police state with more revenues and cash.

2seaoat wrote:The entire criminal justice needs to be slowly reduced where the profit from crime is removed from a system which rewards a police state with more revenues and cash.

How do you do that? Remove the "profit" from the criminal justice system? Have them work for the government? Oh...wait...they already work for the government.

Stop the war on drugs, and focus on violent crime which protects people and is not a profit center for private jails and more police state hires.

Prosecute and jail the damn crooked judges and lawyers, along with the BS clients that tie up the courts because Bobby got 1 more pickle chip than Eddie..

Here's one reason: mandatory minimum sentencing...and I believe Florida has some of the strictest guidelines in the country...then of course we have to incarcerate offenders...costs are high...so the state outsources to private companies, as in the case of the controversial Blackwater facility.



http://www.ussc.gov/Legislative_and_Public_Affairs/Congressional_Testimony_and_Reports/Mandatory_Minimum_Penalties/20111031_RtC_PDF/Chapter_05.pdf