Recently, I discovered a show on the MTV Channel called Juvies. It’s a real life show about kids in America who get into trouble with the law and end up spending some time in Juvenile Detention. The show is rated M, although for the life of me I have no idea why. As far as I’m concerned, this is a show that should be watched by all kids over 10 with their parents.
In the episode I just watched, there was a 14 year old boy named Rashad who went to Juvie (for the second time) for assaulting another boy (George) at school. Rashad was seen on a security camera beating George because he put a “Kick Me” sign on Rashad’s back. Rashad was arrested and sent to Juvie for a few days while he waited for his hearing.
The episode also followed a 16 year old girl named Sierra who was taken to Juvie for being a runaway. She had recently started seeing a 19 year old boy who has been to prison twice for drug possession and dealing. When Sierra’s parents tried to ground her for lying – so that they could keep her away from her boyfriend, she disappeared from school and her mother called the Police.
The way the system seems to work is that the kids spend a few days in Juvie while they wait for a hearing in a small court run by Judge Mary Beth Bonaventure. The child gets a “defence” attorney and their is another attorney for “the people”. They question the child and the parent/s and determine whether the child should stay in Juvie or be released to their parents – usually with conditions.
At the end of this episode, both Rashad and Sierra were released to their parents. Rashad was required to undergo counselling for his behaviour, and Sierra was ordered not to have any contact with her boyfriend. There was no comment on Rashad’s progress, however they stated that Sierra stayed in school and made the Honor Roll. The only contact she had with her boyfriend was through myspace.
At no point in the show was there any bad language, violence, nudity (although you do see Rashad topless during his inspection) and there was no sex or drug use. What there WAS, was a real display of what these kids go through. It showed them being brought in to Juvie and processed, as well as showing how they live, how they interact with the other “residents” (it seems they can’t be called inmates) and how the guards deal with problem “residents”.
I think the show is an EXCELLENT way for kids and their parents to discuss issues like drugs, assault and whatever else the show plans to throw at us, and to let young kids see that ANYONE can get in trouble. In this episode, there was an unruly resident who started punching his cell door and carrying on like an idiot just for attention.
Right at the point where the resident started going nuts, we hear young Rashad in voice-over say “It’s about this point I realise I don’t want to be in Juvie”. He was also doing a video diary at one point where he complained that “You have to sleep when they tell you to sleep. You have to get up too early. And you don’t get to play video games or anything”.
Minor points maybe, but I’m sure my 8 and 10 year old boys would relate to these comments. My youngest can’t survive more than two hours without playing Wii, XBox or Nintendo. Maybe seeing Rashad denied all that for three days might be just what he needs to stay on the straight and narrow. And I am happy with whatever works to keep my kids from breaking the law and starting a life in jail at the age of 14.
So….what do you think? Have you seen this show? Do you agree that kids should be watching it? Let me know what you think.
