Criminal Justice in the Gridiron Gang - Movie Review Example

Starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Dunn, and Xzibit Sccot, Gridiron Gang is a 2006 film set in Camp Kilpatrick in Los Angeles, California. The film is basically based on a true to life story of the Kilpatrick Mustangs which happened during the 1990s. Kilpatrick is facility that houses juvenile delinquents who have multiple offenses like gang violence and even murder. This true story, also based on a documentary, tells a about inner city kids who are under juvenile detection who are also united in forging a win as a football team.

Johnson plays the character of a certain Sean Porter who is very dedicated officer bases at Camp Kilpatrick. The Camp Kilpatrick serves as the "last stop" for juvenile offenders before they are finally transferred to jail with the adults. Different theories concerning criminal justice are creatively woven into the plot. These include the criminal theory of retribution; deterrence; rehabilitation; and social defense. The essence of retribution is encapsulated in the statement: "Let the punishment fit the crime" which is actually reflected in Gridiron Gang.

Under this context, the degree of the harshness of the crime committed should be proportionate to the seriousness of the crime that was committed. Simply put, retribution is somewhat a backward-looking type of theory which looks to the past in order to know what to do in the present. In the context of the film, this is manifested through the number of years that a convicted person should spend inside the jail. Meanwhile, deterrence is usually classified into two categories: general deterrence and specific deterrence.

General deterrence basically uses the individual who is sentenced for a crime as means of inducing the public not to commit any forms of crime. On the other hand, specific deterrence means punishing the offender to prevent the offender himself from committing other crimes in the future. Their detention itself is actually a means to convey to the other people that these offenders must not be emulated; meanwhile, the offenders themselves would be discouraged to commit another crime given the stigma that they could get from the society.

Meanwhile, rehabilitation asserts for changing the offender through correctional means like the football team that is initiated by Sean. It is good way of motivating the teenagers to turn a new leaf and also serves as a good way of diverting their attention into worth while activities. Instead of thinking about the punishment that they are given, they would be more focused on forging camaraderie and sportsmanship among their team mates, as well as opponents in the game. Rehabilitation is considered more effective among first time and non violent offenders.

Lastly, social defense meanwhile is the most popular reason often related with the punishment of the criminals. It aims basically to protect the public by isolating and then punishing the criminals. Thus, it would be more likely impossible for a criminal to commit another crime while serving his or her sentence. Just like in the context of deterrence, the youngsters detained in the camp are under the social defense. They are held off in a common place while waiting to officially serve their sentence according to the crime that each of them committed.

Gridiron Gang is an interesting attempt of looking into the issue of juvenile crime while also presenting the positive things that could happen inside the detention camp. This story really gives much inspiration to the audience that each man can make a difference just like what Sean did.