NCJ Number
26513
Date Published
1973
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS UNNARRATED DOCUMENTARY, SHOT IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, SHOWS THE DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES OF A JUVENILE COURT THAT PROCESSES 17,000 COMPLAINTS EACH YEAR.
Abstract
THE PROCESSING OF SOME OF THESE COMPLAINTS IS FOLLOWED, IN PART, FROM INITIAL ENTRY INTO THE SYSTEM TO THE ULTIMATE DISPOSITION. DRUG ADDICTION, ARMED ROBBERY, PROSTITUTION, INCEST, CHILD MOLESTING, CHILD NEGLECT AND CHILD BEATING ARE AMONG THE CHARGES HEARD BY JUDGE KENNETH TURNER, THE SOLE JUDGE OF THE JUVENILE COURT OF MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY, TENNESSEE. SCENES INCLUDE CONFERENCES AMONG PARENTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, LAWYERS AND YOUNG OFFENDERS, INTERVIEWS WITH PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND MEETINGS IN THE JUDGE'S CHAMBERS. THE FOCUS OF THE FILM IS ON THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED, BUT IN WATCHING THEM ONE LEARNS MUCH ABOUT THE PROCEDURES OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE VIEWER IS AFFORDED A GLIMPSES OF SEVERAL TRAGIC CASES SUCH AS THAT INVOLVING A CONFUSED 15 YEAROLD BOY FACING DUBIOUS CHARGES OF MOLESTING A FOUR-YEAROLD GIRL FOR WHOM HE HAD BEEN BABYSITTING; AND THAT A DIMINUTIVE BLACK BOY, HIS HEAD SWATHED IN BANDAGES, WHO SAYS HIS UNCLE POURED HOT GREASE ON HIM. THE FILM CLIMAXES WITH THE HIGHLY EMOTIONAL TRIAL OF A 17-YEAROLD, ADMITTEDLY THE DRIVER FOR AN ARMED ROBBER OF 19. THE DEFENDANT IS TOO PSYCHOLOGICALLY UNBALANCED TO COMPREHEND THE SERIOUSNESS OF HIS CASE OR THE FACT THAT THE COURT IS DOING HIM A FAVOR BY SENDING HIM TO A TRAINING SCHOOL RATHER THAN WAIVING HIM TO AN ADULT COURT. (SNI ABSTRACT)