Crime: Against Children,Crime: General,Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco: Reference or Discussion,Violence: Domestic/Physical Abuse,Violence: Sexual Assault/Rape Reference/Discussion
Here is the explosive story of the Kids for Cash scandal in Pennsylvania, a judicial justice miscarriage that sent more than 2,500 children and teens to a for-profit detention center while two judges lined their pockets with cash, as told by Candy J. Cooper, an award-winning journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist.
In the early 2000s, Judge Mark Ciavarella and Judge Michael Conahan of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania were known as no-nonsense judges. Juveniles who showed up in their courtrooms faced harsh words and even harsher sentencing. In the post-Columbine era, many people believed that was just what the county needed to ensure its children and teens stayed on the straight and narrow path. But as more and more children faced shocking sentences for seemingly benign crimes, and a newly built for-profit detention center filled up further and further, a sinister pattern of abuses and bribery emerged. Through extensive research and original reporting leading into contemporary times, award-winning journalist Candy J. Cooper tells the story of a scandal that the Juvenile Law Center calls “one of the largest and most serious violations of children’s rights in the history of the American legal system.”
Title alpha Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked Away
Category Nonfiction High Plus
Pages Count 192
Genre Nonfiction
Topics Mark Ciavarella (1950- ). Michael Conahan (1952- ). Administration of juvenile justice. Corrupt justice practices. Pennsylvania. Corruption of law and legislation. Bribery. Judicial error. Juvenile courts. Juvenile detention. Law and crime. Civil rights. Human rights.
Lexile 1140L
Trim Size 9" x 6"
JLG Span Fall
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2024-04-01
JLG Release Date Aug 2024
Minimum grade 9
Maximum grade 12
Reading level High
Format Print
Nonfiction High Plus (Grades 9 & Up)
Nonfiction High Plus
Nonfiction High Plus (Grades 9 & Up)
For Grades 9 & Up
This collection features 14 challenging and engaging nonfiction books per year, supporting classroom learning and independent exploration. Covering history, science, and current events, these books showcase excellent research techniques and encourage critical thinking. Ideal for both casual browsing and in-depth study, some selections may include adult nonfiction titles.
Illustrations/Images: Blood/Gore,Illustrations/Images: Disturbing Imagery,Language: Strong Language,Violence: Gun Violence,Violence: Sexual Assault/Rape,Violence: Torture,Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War
Discrimination: Racial Insensitivity/Racism,Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco: Reference or Discussion,Language: Strong Language,Social Issue: Political Viewpoint/Satire,Violence: General,Violence: Sexual Assault/Rape Reference/Discussion