MovieChat Forums > Coldwater Discussion > Years in youth correctional facilities?

Years in youth correctional facilities?

posted 10 years ago by professionaloutdoorsman
5 replies | jump to latest

In the movie they imply that the teens are there a long time. They even show "Year 2" a bit after the main character gets beat. I understand that these programs exist, but can they really keep kids for years? If you stayed there for too long, you'd turn 18, and they couldn't legally hold you. Each year at this facility would put you further behind in school...even if the program succeeded, you be behind in education, which could hurt job/college prospects, which could push you back into an illegal lifestyle.

[–] Mmhmsp 10 years ago

@ProfesionalOutdoorsman Great points!!!

Just finished watching this movie. A few ideas:

(1) "15-17." Average age of youth in these programs. Sadly, it appears the possibility exists for not only a "Year 2," but also a "Year 3";

(2) Educational aspects: from the program director (and the youth guardian(s)) point of view, without some form of societal reform, these youth are already headed for prison - or worse - to begin with (likely, have already dropped/been kicked out of a high school or two, demonstrated such detrimental behavior that, if their current well-being isn't immediately addressed, these youth won't have future/other concerns ((such as education)); &

(3) Tragically, I think this movie accurately depicts some of these reformatory programs. I know of a few people who - kindly phrased - just do not seem right as a direct result of their experiences in such programs. With that said, I also have known people who've expressed a firm sentiment that they would not be alive today but for such programs. (Personally, I would choose not to send a youth I perceived "troubled" to such a program, but that's just me.)

I'm not sure about you but, to my surprise, I found this movie quite enjoyable and, regardless of one's view on these programs, thought Coldwater did a great job of communicating their point of view regarding these programs.

-MMHMSP

[–] saltnurwound 9 years ago

You sure have a chipper disposition about these twisted programs and the people who operate them.

See: Kidnapped for Christ. Great doc shining a light on this sickening practice. It's a miracle people aren't killing their parents after they survive these things.

And don't be so naive. None of these kids are convicted of anything. One set of parents might not do something this crazy until the kid was committing crimes. Another set of parents might find a nickel bag of pot and do the same. Once these kids are in their clutches, they're profitable business. Just how quickly do you think they want to say they're ready to go home when the checks are still coming and clearing?

Private businesses that profit off holding people of any age against their will should be absolutely prohibited, and that very much indeed includes private prisons.

[–] gabby_bm 10 years ago

It's my understanding that juvenile facilities have the power to hold people through the age of 21, provided their sentence accounts for that duration and without directing them to an adult correctional facility. So if a 14-year old kills someone, they could be sentenced to a juvenile facility for 7 years.

Of course this understanding is about 25 years out of date and some things have probanbly changed since the 80's 

I don’t need you to tell me how good my coffee is.. 
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[–] NyxEos 10 years ago

gabby_bm Those rules would apply to a juvenile detention centre in which the court has chosen a set amount of time. This movie is about a juvenile "rehabilitation" centre, in which a parent pays the centre itself to take their child. Therefore they would have to be released at 18.

[–] willpostbond 9 years ago

yes there are hundreds, if not thousands, of kids