Part 1, We're Drowning, Chapters 1, January 1994 and Chapter 2, Home Girl Summary and Analysis

Chapter 1 opens at LA County Superior Court, Juvenile Division in Inglewood, California. The deputy district attorney, Peggy Beckstrand, tells the author that the first thing to learn about the system in Inglewood is that nothing works. A court case is about to begin and the study showing that juvenile detention doesn't work is in the air. In many of these court cases it is hard to tell who wins, if anyone does. Inglewood is a poor community with a few wealth lawyers and businessmen. The town is very racially and economically segregated.

Fear is a huge part of the juvenile justice system, particularly given the huge increase in juvenile crime since the 1970s. Confusion is commonplace as well because of the huge number of cases...