Juvenile Court

Sights, sounds and feelings from within the juvenile court system.

Juvenile Court

Massive building, tall, imposing
Cameras watching, thoughts exposing

White washed walls and cold tile floor
Only dread comes through that door

Anguished faces, apprehensive
Body language so defensive

Silent weeping, vulgar swearing
Feeling doomed, beyond all caring

Troubled children, facing fears
Stern faced judges, moms in tears

Vandalism, petty theft
Seeking hope but none is left

Escalating, drugs and rape
Beyond all hope, now no escape

Was a child, now judged a man
This was part of no one’s plan

Adult status, once desired
Handcuffs, shackles now required

Hear the verdict, “five to ten”
In as children, out as men

Load the van, a road to hell
End up in a prison cell

Above the door, these words appear
“Abandon hope, who enter here….”


(This was written without ending punctuation as part of the "effect" of the poem. Everything is left "on hold, hanging in the air..." - for a feeling of not knowing what comes next.)