Kids for Cash (Trailer)

Kids for Cash tells the shocking story of the Kids for Cash scandal, which came to light in 2008. Two judges, Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan, were found guilty of sending thousands of juveniles to detention centres for minor crimes in return for kickbacks from those operating these for-profit facilities. Many children were locked up for trivial offences, including mocking a school principal, trespassing in an unoccupied building, and shoplifting a DVD, when a lesser penalty would have been more appropriate.

The documentary points out that the entire scandal unfolded in full view of others in positions of authority who were unwilling to step up as whistle-blowers. It features interviews with people affected by Ciavarella’s and Conahan’s actions, as well as with the two judges themselves.