The film points out that Wayne County has only 1 juvenile judge for a system that processes over 10,000 youths a year to the youth home. Using several case histories, the film depicts the inadequacies of the juvenile justice system both in handling juvenile cases and in helping the offenders. A lawyer indicates that all juveniles should have legal counsel to advise them of their rights and to represent them in court. One method of helping youths in trouble that seems to be working is to have other adolescents who have experienced similar problems act as sympathetic counselors. Telephone hotlines, temporary shelters for runaways and potential runaways, and peer counseling are all shown to have a positive influence on troubled youth. Girls living in a youth home discuss their experiences and conclude that no one should be labeled a juvenile delinquent because everyone makes mistakes; it is what one learns from the mistakes that makes a person more mature and responsible. the girls feel that adults, and especially parents, need to trust their children more and be willing to keep open lines of communication, no matter what circumstances seem to present a barrier.