Justin Normal has begun serving a nine-month sentence as a result of a government policy that activists are calling harsh and unusual punishment. Justin is just one of thousands of young people who some believe are being illegally detained under unjust legislation.

Justin is not the only member of his family to receive similar treatment. Justin's brother Nigel has already served three such sentences and is about to begin his fourth. Although many of those being detained this fall were repeat offenders, a large number entered the system for the first time. The same situation is occurring in every community across the country.

Some critics say the conditions these young people serve time in are inhuman. One ex-inmate who asked not to be named spoke about his experience in 'the big house'. "It's boring and frustrating," he said. "You spend hours and hours every day studying things you'll never use. They cram 30 or 40 of us into a little room with overhead florescent lighting that ruins your eyes and little tiny desks that wreck your back. If they catch you talking or looking out the window they add extra time to your sentence."

Norma Normal, the mother of Justin and Nigel, believes there should be some flexibility on the part of officials. "We asked for house detention," she said. "Unfortunately both my husband and I work full time so there would be no one there to supervise them."

Young Justin is worried about entering the system for the first time. It's been a traumatic experience for him. "I've never been away from home before," he said. "I know my brother is there to help me. Still I'm scared!"

A government official answered questions on condition of anonymity. "We try to be flexible," he said. "But if we made an exception for the Normal boys and let them off, then we'd have to consider doing it for everyone."

John French a political scientist at the University of Dijon said the situation has been going on for years. "We believe the Normal case goes to the heart of how we define freedom in the west. Some people say these youngsters will be better off because of their learning experience. Others point out that we're taking away their youth and they'll never get it back. If they were adults the government could not detain them without proper charges being filed"

The Normals are part of a growing movement among parents who feel the treatment their children receive is illegal. They say that their sons and daughters deserve the same rights and freedoms that any citizen enjoys.

Larry Litigate, a lawyer for Parents Against Detentions (PAD) a group that advocates for the rights of young people, spoke for the organization. "What crimes have these kids committed?" Litigate asked. "In another age we'd have overlooked their lack of knowledge and allowed them to mingle with the general population-growing up to be normal well adjusted adults. It seems excessive."

Others disagree. It's often pointed out that most of our best scientists and world leaders 'did time' as children. A poll taken by The Big Think Tank discovered that 82% of parents agree with government policy on educating children. The poll showed that parents believe that while institutionalized their children will learn many of the skills necessary to survive in today's competitive marketplace.

Lottie Testarone a supervisor at the facility where John and Michael attend also disagreed with the position of PAD. She pointed out that there are good reasons why young people are placed in closely supervised situations. "All you have to do is watch children who are not in this sort of structured environment. They run amuck all day, playing with no definite purpose in mind. Ask any five-year-old who Balzac was or the answer to a simple algebra equation and they don't know. Those are the types of learning needs that institutions like ours correct."

Recent statistics point to the fact that once a child enters the system, he or she will be there an average of 13 years, until finally graduating. Often though they go on to more serious offenses and may, in some extreme situations, spend half a lifetime 'inside'.

These modern institutions have changed considerably since the early years when young people were detained in log cabins with poor ventilation and outdoor plumbing. Today's facilities are clean modern structures with sports facilities and effective electronic monitoring systems to ensure inmate safety and compliance.

Another issue officials have taken steps to correct is bullying. Many of the older children have spent years together, forming bonds and developing gang codes. If you're new to the system it can be difficult. There are stories about young vulnerable newcomers, who are forced to give up their lunch money to older tougher boys. Beatings and yard time intimidation were the norm in the past.

Institution supervisor Chuck Hardly said those days are over. "If that sort of behavior is reported, we take it very seriously. We have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to bullying. Anyone caught intimidating others will be punished severely. Force is the only thing some of these kids respect."

Hardly admitted that mistakes have been made in the past. The system is not perfect he said, but professionals at every level are working together to create an environment that turns raw untrained children into good productive workers and honest tax paying school graduates.