Kids for Cash is a 2013 documentary film about the "kids for cash" scandal which unfolded in 2008 over judicial kickbacks in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Two judges were found guilty of accepting kickbacks in exchange for sending thousands of juveniles to detention centers when probation or a lesser penalty would have been appropriate. Some juveniles were sent to detention centers for incidents as minor as theft of a CD from Walmart.
In the film, former judge Michael Conahan admits to his crime and accepts the plea agreement. On September 23, 2011, he was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison and ordered to pay 874,000 dollars in restitution. Unlike Conahan, former judge Mark Ciavarella did not accept a plea agreement and completely denied allegations of his involvement in the kids-for-cash scam. He and his family went as far as accusing Conahan of lying about the scam. They claimed Ciavarella was being falsely accused of a crime he did not commit. As a result, he was sentenced to 28 years in prison, 10.5 more years than Conahan. Had he admitted to his crimes, Ciavarella may have had a lesser sentence similar to that of Conahan.
The documentary points directly to Conahan’s involvement in the scam and how he was involved in several business endeavors that gave him the experience necessary to orchestrate the scam. Conahan signed a plea agreement admitting to financial kickbacks from the scam. Ciavarella was found guilty of twelve of thirty-nine federal felonies including racketeering, mail fraud, money laundering, fraud conspiracy and filing false tax returns.
After beginning his sentence at a Federal correctional institution in Pekin, Illinois, Ciavarella was transferred in October 2014 to a Federal transfer center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In March 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States rejected Ciavarella’s petition for an appeal of his conviction. He will be 85 years old when he is eligible for release. Several sources have published that former judge Conahan demanded $129,000 from former judge Ciavarella's in-laws, but more reputable sources have yet to confirm this allegation.
Productionedit
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2014)
Interviewees include Mark Ciavarella, Michael Conahan, Justin Bodnar, Hillary Transue, Amanda Lorah, Sandy Fonzo, Charlie Balasavage, and Terrie Morgan-Besecker.
Receptionedit
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film an approval rating of 92% based on 36 reviews.[3] On Metacritic the film has a score of 75% based on reviews from 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[4]
Ronnie Scheib of Variety wrote: "The film represents a scathing critique of America’s juvenile justice system, the privatization of penal institutions, and the whole notion of "zero tolerance.""[5] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter called it "A real-life thriller that rivals the most dramatic fiction in terms of emotional impact."[6]
Kids for Cash Documentary: Meet the Director by Scott Schaffer (18 November 2013)
Kids For Cash: Inside One of the Nation’s Most Shocking Juvenile Justice Scandals. Democracy Now! (4 February 2014)
'Kids For Cash' Captures A Juvenile Justice Scandal From Two Sides. NPR. (8 March 2014)
January 01, 1970
kids, cash, 2013, documentary, film, about, kids, cash, scandal, which, unfolded, 2008, over, judicial, kickbacks, wilkes, barre, pennsylvania, judges, were, found, guilty, accepting, kickbacks, exchange, sending, thousands, juveniles, detention, centers, when. Kids for Cash is a 2013 documentary film about the kids for cash scandal which unfolded in 2008 over judicial kickbacks in Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania Two judges were found guilty of accepting kickbacks in exchange for sending thousands of juveniles to detention centers when probation or a lesser penalty would have been appropriate Some juveniles were sent to detention centers for incidents as minor as theft of a CD from Walmart Kids for CashDirected byRobert MayProduced byLauren TimmonsRobert MayPoppy DasCinematographyJay GillespieEd MarritzEdited byPoppy DasMusic byMichael BrookProductioncompanySenArt FilmsRelease dates17 November 2013 2013 11 17 DOC NYC 1 February 2014 2014 02 Running time102 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBox office 143 178 2 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Production 3 Reception 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksSynopsis editIn the film former judge Michael Conahan admits to his crime and accepts the plea agreement On September 23 2011 he was sentenced to 17 5 years in prison and ordered to pay 874 000 dollars in restitution Unlike Conahan former judge Mark Ciavarella did not accept a plea agreement and completely denied allegations of his involvement in the kids for cash scam He and his family went as far as accusing Conahan of lying about the scam They claimed Ciavarella was being falsely accused of a crime he did not commit As a result he was sentenced to 28 years in prison 10 5 more years than Conahan Had he admitted to his crimes Ciavarella may have had a lesser sentence similar to that of Conahan The documentary points directly to Conahan s involvement in the scam and how he was involved in several business endeavors that gave him the experience necessary to orchestrate the scam Conahan signed a plea agreement admitting to financial kickbacks from the scam Ciavarella was found guilty of twelve of thirty nine federal felonies including racketeering mail fraud money laundering fraud conspiracy and filing false tax returns After beginning his sentence at a Federal correctional institution in Pekin Illinois Ciavarella was transferred in October 2014 to a Federal transfer center in Oklahoma City Oklahoma In March 2015 the Supreme Court of the United States rejected Ciavarella s petition for an appeal of his conviction He will be 85 years old when he is eligible for release Several sources have published that former judge Conahan demanded 129 000 from former judge Ciavarella s in laws but more reputable sources have yet to confirm this allegation Production editThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it January 2014 Interviewees include Mark Ciavarella Michael Conahan Justin Bodnar Hillary Transue Amanda Lorah Sandy Fonzo Charlie Balasavage and Terrie Morgan Besecker Reception editOn Rotten Tomatoes the film an approval rating of 92 based on 36 reviews 3 On Metacritic the film has a score of 75 based on reviews from 17 critics indicating generally favorable reviews 4 Ronnie Scheib of Variety wrote The film represents a scathing critique of America s juvenile justice system the privatization of penal institutions and the whole notion of zero tolerance 5 Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter called it A real life thriller that rivals the most dramatic fiction in terms of emotional impact 6 See also edit nbsp Film portal nbsp United States portal nbsp Pennsylvania portal Incarceration in the United States Private prisonReferences edit Kids for Cash Doc NYC Kids for Cash Kids for Cash Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved 1 January 2022 Kids for Cash Metacritic Scheib Ronnie 3 December 2013 Film Review Kids for Cash Variety Kids for Cash Film Review The Hollywood Reporter November 19 2013 External links editOfficial website Kids for Cash at IMDb nbsp Kids for Cash Documentary Meet the Director by Scott Schaffer 18 November 2013 Kids For Cash Inside One of the Nation s Most Shocking Juvenile Justice Scandals Democracy Now 4 February 2014 Kids For Cash Captures A Juvenile Justice Scandal From Two Sides NPR 8 March 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kids for Cash amp oldid 1214710069, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
