The loud buzz of the security door screeched through the building as Cameron stepped back into the hallway. Even after almost two years at Brockton Youth Facility, the sound still made him tense up. 

Most people on the outside thought Brockton was a place that helped troubled teens get their lives back together. That’s what the website told them. That’s what the reporters said. Everyone on the outside paid more attention to the people who didn’t have experience than to the people who did. The outsiders make up false narratives to have citizens send in tax money to be used for the wrong reasons.

According to them, it was full of counselors, opportunities, and support. But, the people who actually lived there knew better. 

Cameron walked toward the cafeteria for lunch. The paint on The wall was peeling in multiple different places, and brown water stains spread across it and all over the ceiling. 

When he sat down, Hendrix sat in the seat right across from him.

“You see what’s going on, on TV?” Hendrix asked.

Cameron looked up at the screen that’s in the corner of the cafe. A news reporter stood outside a different youth facility, smiling ear to ear as she spoke on the “facts: on the facility.

“Programs like these continue helping young youth build successful careers and provide the care they need.” 

Hendrix let out a sarcastic laugh.
“Tuh, you hear that?”

“Hear what?” Cameron answered back.

   “They really think people believe in what they say.” Hendrix says as he shakes his head

“No. I think they only want people who haven’t been in the youth facilities to believe it.”

The truth was completely different than expected.

The recreation room had over a handful of equipment that had broken and never gotten replaced. The food they gave around was cold and under cooked before it hit the tables. The request of kids wanting to see counselors was always bypassed or got ignored for no reason given. Most of the time when the requests are made they get their acceptance months later.

A couple of weeks ago, a kid at the facility, Issac, had a horrible high fever. He spent days trying to fight it in his cell, but unfortunately it was so bad he was escorted to the ER by the guards while everyone was asleep.

But this incident wasn’t shown on camera though.

The facility only cared about bringing youth in to get money. Never about the youth. The only reason why they love their job is because:

1. Money

2. Money

3. Money

That’s it.

The reporter on television kept smiling and talking.

“All these facilities prioritize the health of every youth in the building."

A kid at the table next to me started laughing when he heard them say that.

The problem was that they weren't telling the truth about the Youth Centers. Later that day, everyone was assigned to different work spaces around the building. As Cameron and Hendrix cleaned one of the hallways, they saw Tyler sitting in front of the counselor's office. He looked worn out. 

   “Hey, you good Ty?” Cameron asked.

Tyler sighed while pouting.

“I don’t know to be honest..”

“What’s wrong man?”

“I’ve been trying to get counseling for the past three weeks bro.” 

“And what happened?”

“They keep making excuses to not see me, it's tiring.”

A medical staff member walks past Tyler without even paying him any attention.

“Umm.. excuse me,” Tyler called out. “I’m still waiting for the appointments I put in.” 

“Put in another request then.” He said with an attitude

Tyler let out an irritated laugh and walked away.

Cameron looked at him for a while and noticed Tyler acts just like him, he realizes he tries to act like he isn’t bothered by what they’re telling him but deep down he knows he’s exhausted. As he walked away their medical assistant's actions stayed in the back of his head. 

That night, Cameron couldn’t sleep. The room was quiet except for the door opening and closing continuously down the hall. He begins to reminisce about everything since his first day at Brockton to now, seeing all the changes since then.

(FN1) “Priavte vs. Public Prisons.” Business Case Study, August 19, 2024. https://businesscasestudies.co.uk/private-vs-public-prisons/ The core debate centers around whether the profit motive of private corporations improves operational efficiency or compromise inmate welfare and transparency.

The broken equipment, the ignored medical request, and promises that never seemed to go anywhere. Everyone around always talks about helping kids, the “support”, and multiple chances they get. But nobody really knows what's actually happening to the kids inside. 

A couple weeks later, everything in the facility changed. The walls were repainted, only some bubblers were fixed, and random posters about mental health, self care, and safety around the building. Some things that were never there the first time. With everyone noticing they realized reporters are coming to the facility to make news paper on the “Care of Brockton Youth Facility”. 

“Hear goes this bullsh*t,” Hendrix says annoyed

“You think they’ll actually see the cover ups?” Cameron asked.

“I mean not if the guards make is obvious,” Hendrix says shrugging his shoulders

The next day, the guards gave everyone strict orders on where they could and couldn’t go in the facility since there’s reporters. The staff rushed everyone around to make it seem like where they’re walking into is a “calm” environment.

By the middle of the day, the news reporter van pulled into the parking lot. The teens watched the vans pull in one by one and saw multiple reporters and cameramen outside. The  facility manager greets everyone with a phony smile. Throughout the day the reporters were talking and filming different areas around the facility showing the “healthy” environment they’re in.

Cameron observes as the manager pointed out the freshly painted walls and speaks on the care of mental health they part take in for the youth to make them a better person for the future. He tries to bribe the reporters to bring their "troubled" kids there to “help” them. 

Everything around them looked good, at least through the camera. As the news reporters went down the hall, Cameron saw Tyler sitting alone looking tired. Still looking the same from earlier, nobody helped him when they saw him. He just sat there waiting and waiting. 

The reporter stops and smiles at the camera

“Brockton Youth Facility provides teens valuable support and fast guidance for the youth working towards a better future.”

       Cameron felt his heart in his stomach seeing Tyler like that, he looked at Hendrix who then looked at him and made a connection with their eyes. Cameron was tired of being quiet and keeping secret to the public about the actual environment in the facility. Before he could even think if he wanted to speak up his body moved forward out the line. 

  “Back in line, now.” a guard said.

    Cameron hears him but it goes one way and out the other. 

    The reporters heard the commotion and stopped talking to the camera. The cameraman even turned around towards them

“If you want the honest answer,” Cameron yells, “talk to people who actually have experience in the facility.” 

“What do you mean by that?” a reporter asked aloud.

Cameron points straight towards Tyler as he sits on the bench next to the medical office.

“He’s been sitting there everyday for a few weeks waiting for help. Everyone in here has. Everyone keeps bringing up support in the facility when in reality there was never any from the start.” Cameron says with his whole heart. 

    A guard quickly grabbed Cameron and told him to shut his mouth. Hendrix steps forward to add to Cameron's claim and so did the rest of the teens in the facility. They agreed with the mistreatment they got everyday mentally and physically, and spoke on the problems all staffs completely ignored.

The manager kept trying to interrupt, but nobody paid him any mind. For the first time, people from the outside were hearing what life at Brockton Youth facility was actually like.

The manager tries to get everyone's attention, but no one listens. Cameron turned around and noticed the reporter wasn’t talking anymore, just listening to everything that’s going on. Her just listening and watching felt like an accomplishment. After this event, the next couple of days were a little hectic for Cameron.

Since this situation some people acted as if he was the problem to the truth being told and some didn’t even acknowledge him, but since then the situation was talked about with the other teens. Most of them thanked him after the cause. Since then, Cameron felt people weren’t afraid to speak the truth. 

Cameron sees Hendrix and sits down with him.

“You think what I did made a difference?” Cameron asked.

“I actually don’t know, Cam.” Hendrix replied. “But they sure looked nervous after the camera came.”

Cameron let out a little chuckle.

“You're not lying.” 

Later that night, Cameron sat in his room still didn’t know if the reporter would air the footage of what happened and didn’t know if people would actually care. What did figure was the truth has been told and said live aloud. For years, people always tried to make a false narrative about Brockton. For years, teens were threatened if they ever spoke the truth on what happens in the facility. Now that the silence is gone. There won’t be immediate change, but the reality is finally out. Sometime change doesn’t happen when people finally hear you, but when you finally decide to speak up.

(FN2) Nam-Sonenstein, Brian. “Cur-rate care: The systematic problems shaping ‘healthcare’ behind bars.” Prison Policy Initiative, February, 2025. https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/healthcare.html Healthcare delivery in U.S. correctional facilities is fundamentally broken because systems treat incarcerated patients’ needs as a burden rather than a core mission. The entire system functions primarily as a cost control service meant to limit spending and fend off legal liabilities.