Between 1935 and 1967, other cases like Lattimore challenged the workings and authority of the Juvenile Court. By the 1960s, the rehabilitative model and the uneven treatment that juveniles received worried youth advocates. In 1967 the case of Gerald Gault would change history and the court forever.
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Ha Ha H
When Gerald’s mother arrived home at 6pm she could not find her son. She finally sent his brother to look for him at Ronald’s house. This was how she learned that he had been taken into custody. She immediately drove to the Children’s Detention Home.
Geeeehhhrahlld...time for suuuuppper
Mrs. Cook? $*#&!!!!?! bye!
Yes, Mrs. Gault, We do have your son. We picked him up this morning for making lewd phone calls.
old bat!
On June 9th, 1964, Gerald Gault, Mrs. Gault, Gerald’s brother, and two probation officers appeared before Judge McGhee of Gila County. Gerald tried to explain what happened. On June 8, 1964, in the late morning, Gerald Gault and Ronald Lewis were taken into custody by the Gila County Sheriff for making lewd phone calls to their neighbor, Mrs. Cook. Gerald Gault was on probation for being in the company of a young man who had stolen a woman’s wallet in February of the same year. He was transported by the Sheriff to the Children’s Detention Home.
I’ll think about it...
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Gerald was returned to the Children’s Detention Center where he stayed until June 11th or 12th, when he was released. Around 5pm on that same day Mrs. Gault received a cryptic note...