Shackled, Candy J. Cooper
Shackled, Candy J. Cooper
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Shackled
A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked Away

Author: Candy J. Cooper

Narrator: Beth Hicks

Unabridged: 3 hr 53 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 08/13/2024


Synopsis

Beginning in the early 2000s, Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan exerted a mighty influence over the workings of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Under their guidance a stern warning aimed at young people spread throughout the county: follow the rules.

A simple misstep could result in severe punishment.

In the post-Columbine era, many believed this type of old-school discipline was just what juveniles needed to stay on the straight and narrow path. However, as more and more kids and teens received shocking sentences for seemingly minor offenses, a disturbing pattern of corruption and lies began to emerge.

With original reporting and extensive new research from Pulitzer Prize finalist Candy J. Cooper, Shackled chronicles the infamous kids-for-cash scandal, where the scales of justice were deliberately tipped to fill prison beds and line the pockets of those sworn to uphold the law.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Valerity (Val) on February 27, 2024

This story is so disgusting about an egregious violation of the trust of the people. A pair of judges and some of their cronies built for-profit detention centers for juveniles, then manipulated the system to have juveniles sent to their jails. They ordered underlings to keep them filled. I was amaz......more

Goodreads review by The Bibliophile Doctor on March 28, 2024

So the blurb of shackled says —In the early 2000s, Judge Mark Ciavarella and Judge Michael Conahan of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania were known as no-nonsense judges. Juveniles who showed up in their courtrooms faced harsh words and even harsher sentencing. In the post-Columbine era, many people belie......more

Goodreads review by Alison on August 27, 2024

I'd heard about the Kids for Cash scandal in the PA court system, but I wasn't familiar with the details. This is horrifying – so many young lives needlessly traumatized and undoubtedly changed by the heartless acts of two greedy judges. Among the "crimes" kids (often good, previously A-student kids......more

Goodreads review by Steff on February 18, 2024

I just want to cry. It is just absolutely horrifying to me that corrupt people and systems of corruption are not fought against in every way shape and form. The purely unjust actions of four men completely destroyed so many aspects of the lives of more than 300 children. And all for money. It’s an iss......more

Goodreads review by Teresa on March 26, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, Astra Publishing House, Calkins Creek, and Candy J. Cooper for the opportunity to read Shackled in exchange for an honest review. This non-fiction book explores the "Kids for Cash" scandal of Pennsylvania in a coherent and streamlined way. It offers commentary from plaintiffs......more