Detained children may be compensated after scandal

A corruption scandal in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, gives a whole new meaning to "follow the money." To some of us, however, it's hardly surprising.

Two judges in that county have been charged with taking kickbacks after sending juvenile defendants to privately owned facilities. Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan are accused of taking of millions of dollars for sending children to the centers that are owned by a Pittsburgh businessman.

At one of the facilities, a teenager who was a first-time offender was beaten by other teens.

Now the state may compensate the young people who were locked up.

I will bet you my entire life savings that this is not the only instance in recent years in which American judges have taken kickbacks from confinement facilities. This happens to be one very few times they actually got caught.

Why else would so many courts these days send kids to abusive privately owned lockups and phony "rehabs"?

(Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09035/946743-454.stm)