THE DOCUMENTARY CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH JUVENILES, THEIR TEACHERS, INSTITUTIONAL PERSONNEL, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND COUNSELORS. BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL IS A LARGE SCHOOL WITH A HIGH RATE OF TRUANCY. DURING SCHOOL HOURS, SCORES OF JUVENILES GATHER ON THE HANDBALL COURTS OR ON NEARBY STREET CORNERS WITH THEIR FRIENDS, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS IGNORE THEM. THE CITY RETAINED A SCHOOL NEIGHBORHOOD WORKER TO MINGLE WITH THE CROWDS OF TRUANTS, DETECT SIGNS OF TROUBLE, AND TRY TO PREVENT IT, BUT A TIGHT BUDGET FORCED THE CITY TO ELIMINATE THE POSITION. THE CHILDREN SAY THEY DO NOT GO TO CLASS BECAUSE SCHOOL IS BORING, TEACHERS DO NOT CARE, THEY DO BADLY IN SCHOOL, OR THEY FEEL UNWANTED. SPOFFORD DETENTION CENTER IN NEW YORK IS A JUVENILE INSTITUTION WITH HIGH ESCAPE RATES, PERVASIVE VIOLENCE, AND HIGH CRIME RATES, WHERE CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 16 ARE SENT FOR SERIOUS CRIMES. MOST JUVENILES INTERVIEWED SAID THEY HAD TROUBLE IN SCHOOL, WERE IN CONTINUOUS TROUBLE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT (SOME CHILDREN WERE ARRESTED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE AGE OF 8 OR 9 AND HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF INSTITUTIONS SINCE). COUNSELORS COMMUNICATED THAT THE JUVENILES THEY WORK WITH HAVE NO SENSE OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM IN THE FUTURE AND DO NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT ANYTHING. BROOKWOOD CENTER, ONE OF TWO MAXIMUM SECURITY CENTERS FOR BOYS IN NEW YORK, OFFERS INMATES SCHOOL COURSES, DAILY THERAPY SESSIONS, AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE FACILITIES. THE FEELING AMONG THE STAFF IS THAT MOST OF THEIR CLIENTS ARE CHRONIC CRIMINALS AND WILL REOFFEND REGARDLESS OF THE TREATMENT THEY RECEIVE AT BROOKWOOD. INTERVIEW RESPONSES WITH THE JUVENILES INDICATE THAT MOST DO NOT FEEL ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRIMES THEY COMMITTED, FEEL NO REMORSE, AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM IN THE FUTURE. (DAG)