In the Custody of Strangers

Based on a true story, Danny Caldwell is an angry small-town teen whose Frank Caldwell has been laid off and can’t find a decent job. His Sandy Caldwell works to provide for the family of five. Danny, frustrated with the town, longs to work or leave, but often clashes with his father, who believes a man should provide for the family, not his wife, and certainly not the boy. The film sets a quiet, tense stage where pride and survival bump against the limits of opportunity.

Danny and Frank are frequently at odds, and the teen slips into trouble, including mischief and petty theft. One night, while Danny Caldwell is out joyriding and drinking, he crashes into a police car and ends up in jail. Frank hopes a night behind bars might straighten him out, but the consequences unfold in a system that traps him: a backlog in probation, isolation due to laws prohibiting contact between juvenile and adult prisoners under the guise of protection, and a frustrated warden Kenneth McMillan who wants to keep Danny out of the adult jail but is bound by the court.

Meanwhile, Frank Caldwell gets a job in Ohio and the family must move, seeking a fresh start. At the trial, the assault charges are dropped and Danny Caldwell is charged only with drunk driving and operating without a license. He is sentenced to time served and released. In the courtroom, his parents speak honestly about the mistakes that led to this moment and call for changes in how society treats troubled youth. Danny returns home forever altered by his time behind bars, carrying the quiet, lasting imprint of a system that both protected and punished him.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:50