Ben Gerrian

Eng 104-069
April 1, 2009
Williams
A Kid’s Nightmare: People in the Nightmare

On the first day of April, I met up with a kid that had served time at Henry County Youth

Center. His name was Keith, 18 years old now. He served just five days on the first Monday in

June, 2007. He informed me that he was charged with two counts of theft and two counts of

burglary. As I started asking questions that I had concerning the facility, he was more than

willing to answer any question I had.

Keith looked to be a strong kid for his age. I asked what types of hobbies he has just to

make small talk and to try to make him feel comfortable around me. He told me he likes to

exercise, lift weights, and wrestle. Keith has an older brother that is now 20 years old. His older

brother had been with Keith in 2007 when they committed their crime. He seemed to not want

to open up about any of the details of the crime he committed other then what their charges were.

His brother was in there for the same amount of time. I had assumed that they had talked, but

after talking to Keith he said they saw each other every day and was never allowed to say a word

to each other. There was several times throughout this interview that I could notice Keith

getting very emotional, this was one of those times.

I decided to change the subject a little and started asking him what he did to pass time.

He replied, “I never liked reading before but when I was in there I read books a lot to help pass

time.” We started talking about all the activities that they had to offer and what it took to
participate in these activities. He said that recreation often consisted of basketball and exercise.

I now had the picture in my head after visiting HCYC and observing the outdoor recreation area

myself. Outside of recreation the facility offers classes from math to computer classes, all the

classes needed to help a minor get through school.

I was never allowed into the actual rooms that the children stayed in, so naturally that

was one of my big areas of questioning. Keith was able to give me very exact details as to say

he had plenty of time to study the inside of his “cell,” as he called it. The bed was bolted to the

wall and was a metal frame. The mat on it was a rough and uncomfortable, with pillows that

would take three or four to even be able to rest on. A blanket that left his feet hanging out of the

end and so rough it left him feeling itchy. The toilet was in the corner, stainless steel, with a sink

on top of toilet. The room was the same size as a common jail cell with a small metal desk in the

room for him to complete his work. The door of the room had a tiny small window towards the

top and a small opening in the middle of the door. There is also a small window that from

Keith’s room he said all he could see is tree line. The windows are limited on view and only

allow people to look straight forward without being able to look to the sides.

It’s always a common story hearing how bad adult prison food taste. I asked Keith what

he thought of the food at HCYC and his reply was just the opposite. He said they offered very

good food and he was never left hungry. He said the meals are very similar to the meals that he

ate at his high school. I asked if he could remember some of the meals he had. Salisbury steak

and mashed potatoes, chicken sandwiches and turkey wraps, and hamburgers and French fries
are some of meals he ate while at HCYC. I joked around with him and mentioned that it sounds

like he ate better in there then I eat now being in college.

I had given it sometime from when Keith had started getting emotional about his brother.

I decided to start asking about the day he was taken into HCYC. He was more open to talk about

that day then I thought he was going to be. He said that his mother and father drove him there.

Once they pulled in, they went inside and informed the receptionist that the two brothers were

there. They took them in through a big garage door and began the intake process. Keith said

this was the very worst part of the entire process. The two boys were given a minute to say their

goodbye’s to their mom and dad. They got patted down, issued scrubs and searched for

contraband after their parents left.

Once through intake area, Keith was given one phone call to contact his parents and let

them know he was okay. Keith told me that he and his brother were not allowed visitation

because visitation rights were only given to people who were there for more than two weeks. I

asked what was the longest someone had been in there. He replied that he really didn’t talk to a

lot of other kids while he was in there but one kid he met had been in there for over a year and

was about to receive a transfer to an adult prison.

I stood up offered a handshake and thanked Keith for the interview. I asked him if there

was anything else that he could think of that he would like to share. He said, “That pretty much

covers everything.” I told him that I believe it seems like he has changed his life and that I was

glad that he took the time to do an interview with me. We both got up and went our separate

ways.
 The first time that I went to visit HCYC, it was the middle of winter and there was about

four inches of snow on the ground. I saw several kids out front of the prison and they were

walking up the giant hill with their sleds by their side. I sat down at a picnic table at the top of

hill to just observe. I overheard two older kids talking about how bad it must “suck” for those

who are inside of the youth center. They kept looking at the big building and the shiny fence, not

daring to get within thirty feet of the fence. I noticed them keeping a heavy mind on the facility

that was overlooking them as they sled up and down. One commented, “anyonewho ended up

there must have done something pretty bad to deserve that.” That comment told me that this

place scares kids and from the fright I saw, they won’t end up there.

The second interview I conducted was through phone. I called down to HCYC and asked

them several questions. They told me that they take their security very serious and that would

limit some of the replies to my questions. I called asking for the executive director of the facility

and was told that he was unavailable. For the questions I had prepared, the receptionist was able

to answer them for me. I asked what services they offered to young kids needing help. She

replied that they offered several types of counseling for not only the juvenile but also the family.

Education is also a big part of the youth center. I was told that educational programs are

provided for those kids that were in high school. For those not in high schools, there are

programs to help the juveniles gain the knowledge needed for their GED.

Since I was limited on the questions I could ask regarding security I decided to go to my

second plan and ask questions regarding health care and well being of the juveniles. She replied,

“We offer mental health services, health care, dental care, as well as food and nutritional care.” I

can remember the first time I went to the facility I could see the basketball courts on the outside

and she reminded me that they offer recreational programs.

 I felt as if I was taking up busy work time and insisted that I let the receptionist get back

to work. I apologized for the inconvenience and immediately thanked her for all the help. She

gave me great perspective of what the facility has to offer to the juveniles. Keith also gave me a

good view of what it was like to be on the inside as a juvenile. I thanked both of them for the

time that they allowed me to interview them.

Ben Gerrian
Eng 103-069
April 3, 2009
Williams

A Kid’s Nightmare: Annotated Bibliography

Hewitt, Bill. "YOUNG LIVES RUINED." People 71.14 (13 Apr. 2009): 60-63. Academic Search
Premier. EBSCO. Ball State University Library, Muncie, IN. 1 Apr. 2009
<http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.bsu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=37304
076&site=ehost-live>.
This article is about teens in Pennsylvania, who was sentenced to juvenile homes for the
smallest infractions. As more and more teens were sent off, FBI investigated and the juvenile
judges and found that they were receiving money for sending the juveniles to the facilities. This
shows that some juvenile courts are corrupt and that some people do not look at juveniles as
people but instead as profit in this case. This relates to my paper because it shows that some
adults do not take into account the psychological impact that juvenile detention centers have on
minors.
Hansen, Brian. "Kids in Prison." CQ Researcher 11.16 (2001): 345-374. CQ Researcher Online.
CQ Press. Ball State University Library, Muncie, IN. 5 April 2009
<http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2001042700>.
The article focuses on the harsh punishment that prosecutors are giving to juvenile
offenders. More kids are getting sentenced as adults for non-violent crimes. Crime rate for
juveniles has been dropping but it’s the big incidents such as Columbine that keep everyone
concerned of where juveniles are headed today. This article helps my paper by showing some
good statistics and giving good concrete evidence that juvenile homes are helping correct
juvenile crime.
Katel, Peter. "Juvenile Justice." CQ Researcher 18.39 (2008): 913-936. CQ Researcher Online.
CQ Press. Ball State University Library, Muncie, IN. 5 April 2009
<http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2008110700>.
Juvenile justice shows that a set standard nationwide is needed. A lot of the states cut off
juvenile justice at 17 years old but there are a few states that have different ages. When is
someone old enough that they can commit a crime and suffer the full consequences? I believe
this article helps explain that very question. This is a large part of what my paper is about. I
think this article adds the support that is needed to help show the psychological view of my
paper.
Donegan, Craig. "Preventing Juvenile Crime." CQ Researcher 2.10 (1996): 217-240. CQ
Researcher Online. CQ Press. Ball State University Library, Muncie, IN. 5 April 2009
<http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1996031500>.
One section that I have not talked about in my paper has been what needs to be done to
help stop these kids out on the streets. Should we be tougher with our punishments? I believe
that this article shows how communities need to step up their crime watch program on minors. I
can use this article to add what needs to be done in communities to help lower the juvenile crime
rate.
United States. Juveniles in Court. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice
Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 1900s.
This is a database of bulletin articles about juvenile offenders. I am not sure exactly what
articles I want to use off of it yet because there are so many. It ranges from crime rate to state
statues. Every state is different with their juvenile law procedures but from this site it is relevant
to me that mostly all juveniles enter the justice system through law enforcement agencies.
VanVleet, Russell K. "THE ATTACK ON JUVENILE JUSTICE." Annals of the American
Academy of Political & Social Science 564 (1999): 203-214. America: History & Life.
EBSCO. Ball State University Library, Muncie, IN. 5 Apr. 2009
<http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.bsu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ahl&AN=A0004
79563.01&site=ehost-live>.
This article brings some of the history of the juvenile system into the picture. I think a lot
of people can get an idea of where something is going if they can see where it has come from.
This shows how from the 70’s to 90’s juvenile systems have made strides but has taken a lot of
attack over them twenty years. I think this is relevant to a paper because history always gives
good insight on how juvenile homes came to be.
"A CURFEW FOR ALBANY YOUTH?." Times Union, The (Albany, NY) 1 Oct. 2008, Final
Edition, Opinion: A9. NewsBank Access World News. Ball State University Library,
Muncie, IN. 5 Apr. 2009. <http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.bsu.edu>.
This article shows how far some communities are going to help keep their minors out of
trouble. A town is setting curfew for 11 p.m. for anyone under the age of 17. Violators can face
$500 fine if caught. This is relevant to my paper because it shows the measure that some
communities are taking to ensure that their children stay out of mischief during the overnight. I
find this important because people have to take into count those under 17 who work and who are
responsible enough to get the privilege of being out after 11 p.m.

"Boy, 12, questioned about several arsons on South Side." Columbus Dispatch, The (OH) 15
Apr. 2009, Home Final, News: 03B. NewsBank Access World News. Ball State
University Library, Muncie, IN. 6 Apr. 2009.
<http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.bsu.edu>.
A 12 year old boy was taken into custody for arson. The boy took off running from
police officers but also stayed in touch with his family. After this his father was taken into
custody as well. I find this relevant because the minor knew he had committed a crime if he fled
the scene and stayed on the run. If minors flee because they know they have committed a crime
then I find that the minor needs help and clearly parents who want their children to do the right
thing.