"Juvies," a powerful documentary film dealing with the failed juvenile justice system, debuted at the recent SB Film Festival, and will be shown free of charge at the beautiful 800-seat Marjorie Luke Theater on the campus of SB Jr. High, Sunday, May 16, at 3:00 p.m.,  

A panel discussion to consider the issues raised by the film will immediately follow.  The panel, to be moderated by Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson, will include Judge Frank Ochoa, other leading juvenile justice system professionals, and two young people.

A gala fund-raising reception at 2:00 P.M., honoring Leslie Neale, the film's acclaimed director will precede the film's showing.

The event is sponsored by the Coalition Against Gun Violence of SB County, which views easy access to firearms as a contributin factor that embroils many young people in the juvenile justice system. Collaborating community organizations include Teen Legal Clinic, Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, SB Pro-Youth Coalition and CASA.

The film raises questions we must all ponder as it tells the story of young people trapped in a legal approach which fast-tracks juvenile offenders to the adult system, often imposing draconian sentences vastly disproportionate to the severity of the offense. The system isn't working: for thousands of kids now being thrown behind bars in adult prisons, the rates of suicide and recidivism are higher than occur for adult inmates.