Overview

A classic of investigative journalism that lifts the curtain on the failures of the American juvenile justice system.Kenneth Wooden's Weeping in the Playtime of Others--first published in 1976 and an enduring work of investigative journalism and criminology that was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize--exposes the harsh realities faced by children in the American juvenile justice system. Wooden's extensive research and firsthand accounts highlight the systemic abuse, neglect, and violence that incarcerated youth endure. Investigative reporter Wooden journeyed across thirty states to document brutal conditions in juvenile detention centers and training schools. His work revealed in stark detail how these institutions regularly failed to provide the rehabilitation they promised, perpetuating cycles of violence and criminality, and presented a devastating picture of the detrimental effects on of solitary confinement, physical punishment, and inadequate educational and psychological support. Wooden's many case studies include that of a young Charles Manson, illustrating how early institutionalization can presage lifelong criminal behavior. Wooden also critiques the political and economic forces that sustain these abusive systems, calling for comprehensive reforms.

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9780814250631

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Kenneth Wooden (1935-2023) was an investigative journalist and child welfare advocate. He reported on child welfare for news outlets such as the New York Times, 60 Minutes, NBC News, and the Chicago Sun-Times, testified before Congress on multiple occasions, and created the Child Lures Prevention program.

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