"Very little has been written about juvenile justice. In the greater consciousness, the word "justice" in this context has been leeched of meaning; it just signifies prison for kids. But to those living and working in various capacities within that system, the word "justice" holds a sepulchral gravity. In Children of the State Jeff Hobbs presents three different true stories that show the day-to-day life and the existential challenges faced by those living and working in juvenile programs: educators, counselors, administrators, and-most importantly-children. For many kids, a woeful mistake made at age thirteen or fourteen-often as a result of external factors bearing upon a biologically immature brain-will resonate through the rest of their lives, making high school difficult, college nearly impossible, and a middle class life a foolish fantasy."-- Provided by publisher.