The New Season: New Mexico to investigate 'Kid Nation'

The New Mexico attorney general’s office said Thursday that it is launching an investigation into whether CBS and the producers of "Kid Nation" broke state laws while the controversial reality show was filmed near Santa Fe this spring.

"Information is being evaluated now and reviewed in light of all the interest in this," spokesman Phil Sisneros said. "We are determining what our next move will be or even if there will be one. Even though it seems it’s kind of a moot point, there are a lot of things to look into that we could still address."

Among the issues the attorney general will review will be the production’s permit process, the contract between the parents and the producers and whether the production company illegally refused to allow inspectors on the property for routine inspections.

Sisneros said officials became aware of the show -- which places 40 kids, ages 8 to 15, in the New Mexico desert to build a society without any contact with their parents -- when an inspector from the Department of Workforce Solutions notified the attorney general that he was not allowed on the property to inspect work permits.

Officials from the Department of Workforce Solutions have said that the production company did not follow standard procedures when it denied them access to the set three times to investigate the work permit issue. The production began April 1, and the inspector first appeared on the ranch April 13. On this visit, the inspector was allowed into the base camp area where producers work, but was not allowed to observe filming, spokesman Carlos Castaneda said. The next day, he returned and was not allowed through the gate because it was a "closed set," Castaneda said. When the inspector returned Monday, CBS lawyers had been in contact with county officials and the attorney general’s office, so the inspector left.

Jonathan Anschell, executive vice president and general counsel for CBS Corp., disputes this version of the events. Anschell said the inspector was allowed on set April 13, took photographs, and left because creator Tom Forman was unavailable and it was time for him to go home. Anschell said the inspector said he would return over the weekend but did not show up on set again until Monday.

By then, local lawyers working for CBS had filed letters with the attorney general’s office and other state departments outlining why they believed no work permits were necessary.

Forman said he leased the Bonzana Creek Movie Ranch site for the production. Asked how a TV production company could refuse to let a government worker do his job, Sisneros said: "They pretty much can do anything they want at the site because it's private property. Obviously, they did. Whether or not what they did is legal is another question."

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

Comments

[lolalloyd]

a few years ago pbs or something had a series about living in a log cabin. there were families with children. the first show a boy about 8 was repeatingly bit by dogs. denying this child the best medical attention is abusive. his parents should have been jailed along with the producers who encouraged it and the station who benefitted from it. if adults want to make complete asses of themselves they are apparently willing and able to. to use minor children is inexcusable.

[BrendaWelsh]

I can not believe parents would even allow their children to be in the show.
The reason that we have adults in our society is because children emotionally and physically can not handle taking charge and dealing with the issues. They have to be taught that either from their parents or other adults in society. I would think that this kind of situation would be emotionally damaging to a child. Whoever thought of this show, should be prosecuted for child abuse.

[D]

Are you kidding me? You haven't even seen it yet and you're making judgments. When I was a wee lad, the Boy Scouts of America left me and 10 other troop mates out in the wilderness for a week to do Survival Training. It was a BLAST and I came out a much better man. So, let's not jump the gun here yeah?

[CodeWarrior]

While I would not watch such an asinine, LORD OF THE FLIES wannabe show myself, shouldn't we let the investigation proceed to final conclusions since, we probably don't have all the facts either. But, I agree that I would have never let my child (who is grown now), participate in such an accident waiting to happen.
~Code

[Fritz]

Brenda - I think you described our society's problems in the perfect nutshell...

Divorce, single parent homes, and latchkey kids - all regrettable situations that are often seemly unavoidable but all contributing to so many of our society's problems...

I'll be anxious to see how this progresses.

[Overzelaous]

Somebody think of the chillldddrrreeennn!

[mega]

Children have not always been as impotent as they are now. Pioneer children played major roles in the survival of their families and in learning about and adapting to their new environment.
Unfortunately many parents, mothers especially, need to keep their children weak and ineffective for the fulfillment of their own emotional power dynamic.

However, the children in this "reality show" should have had access to reasonable care - medical and security. The 8yo boy in the previous show - living in a log cabin should not have been bitten by a dog at all.

[Scott C]

Why would the general public be up in arms over something like this? Have they seen the show yet? Were the children mis-treated?? Emotionally damaging a child... Give me a break! Kids are kids... As an adult, it would have been a blast to be able to participate in an event like this. Medical staff and food must have been taken care of (I'd assume, since I too have not seen the show).

The story here is that inspectors were refused onto private property... The County, State, whatever should have been allowed and that's the controversy here...

I guess controversy is the new ‘spice of life’.

[Chris Campbell]

I don’t think that this is anything different than being a child actor. Anyone who thinks reality TV is not 100% scripted is crazy. They film these shows just like any other TV show. There are many takes for each scene and every word that comes out of the child’s mouth is read from a script. There is no physical or emotional risk to these children. After all when the crew is done filming for the day they all go back to the nice cozy trailer and eat warm food, watch TV and go to sleep is a soft bed….Just like the kids that are in this show the only difference is the actors (kids) have a bigger trailer, bigger TV and a bigger bed to sleep in.

[Matthew Smith]

I agree with the Boy Scout comment. Another problem with our society? We coddle our children too much, expect the government to raise them, and don't give them the benefit of the doubt that they can probably do almost all the things we can. Many of us adults are less capable than children. If there is child abuse going on here that is one thing but all of you out there thinking that you should be right in the middle of these families and what they choose to allow there children to do is ridiculous. Worry about your own problems and let the Attorney General decide if there was abuse.

[bre]

well i think its a wonderful experience for kid(i'm 13) this show is going to be great. so people really need to stop tripping cause i would love to be on that show it'll really make you appreciate what you have.

[yama hama]

what bre said!

[Samiam]

"The reason that we have adults in our society is because children emotionally and physically can not handle taking charge and dealing with the issues."

Funny, I thought that the reason we have adults in our society is that a surviving child tends to turn into one...

-S

[jcat007]

Are we seriously having this conversation? Everyone goes crazy over letting kids, with parent's permission, do this reality gig. We live in this culture of fear over everything. When I was a little one, I went out all day with friends during the summer and did not have a cell phone to check in, did not wear helmets when riding bikes, etc. What has changed to make people go absolutely overreact? Relax, relate, release...

[Web-Eagle]

The Boy Scout comments are rubbish. I am an Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow Brotherhood member. Even during the ordeals we were never out of reach of competent adults. No way would I ever leave an 8 year old in the care of a 15 year old. In fact I’m fairly certain that’s not even legal in some states.

And while yes, it IS a blast to “fend for oneself”, the very real potential for circumstances and dangers requiring adult intervention is ALWAYS present, even on “Private Property”.

I believe the network executives should be held on criminal charges, and the parents should have a round with child protective services. And no, I will not be watching the program IF it actually makes it to air.

[Cheryl Smith]

I don't think the parents & kids understood the contract & had no idea of how the kids would be exploited. If a kid ended up disfigured or seriously hurt the network would say "too bad but you can't sue because you signed a contract giving us 100% control over your kid--you have no legal rights". I think it's disgusting! The only way to discourage CBS from making more Kid Nation shows is to boycott it which I intend to do.

[mark smitty]

Reality shows also edit to make people look like the villian, the weak, the courageous and the loser. Children should not be subjected to this. This kind of show using children must be stopped. The boy scout week wasn't taped and available for everyone to see your weakness or strengths.

[ecotopian]

Um, Chris, you might want to read some other articles about this show. The kids slept on the floor, not in a trailer. The producers went to New Mexico to exploit a loophole, since closed, about filming to get this done. You see, they said it was a summer camp. If it was a summer camp, where were the counselors? Even in summer camp, there is some sort of adult supervision. It must have been a heck of a camp. It's the first one I've heard of where the kids get a stipend. Usually you have to pay.

The comment above about pioneer kids is misleading. There were adults nearby if the kids got into danger. Bear in mind, that both parents were around, not just mom.

This was a set for a TV show, and, if I'm not mistaken, there are rules on how kids can be employed on those sets. Rules these folks ignored. If they can skirt the laws on this set, why not others?

[M. Pal]

If I was still a child I would have loved this opportunity! I read somewhere that the children could choose to leave at anytime and I think that is how CBS is able to have the show and run it to a legal perspective....so if I child was hurt or hungry they could choose to leave and get the medical attention they need. As far as children labor laws and how many hours a day a child can be on set when filming....I just figure the kids didn't work the entire time, I am sure they had fun too, like when they opened up the saloon and all had root beer (I saw a video clip of this)...........My children are 3 1/2 and 7 years old and they help with barn chores and feeding the animals and the kids on the show are older than they are. These were not without complete supervision there was the filming crew and production company on site, so it isn't like some stranger could show up and kid nap any of them. As far as taking the kids out of school for 6 weeks....there had to be some sort of agreement with the parents and schools, some of the kids might be home schooled and maybe the parents figured they could catch them up when all was done with filming. Plus think of the learning experience the kids got....some history and maybe science???

[Matthew Smith]

I don't care if you are an Eagle Scout, parents still have the right to raise their kids how they want and let them do what they want. Maybe you should brush up remember "a scout is reverent."

[Matthew Smith]

I am sure they are being watched. I'm sure the people doing the filming are adults and I"m also sure that the producers, directors etc are all watching the cameras. If they abuse kids by not responding to medical needs etc that is abuse. Otherwise this is no different than a camping trip where the adults make the kids do everything. Kids get hurt camping and I'm sure they've had some minor injuries but this is not abuse. Nothing I have read about suggests abuse. What is wrong with kids camping together?

[Matthew Smith]

If the contract says that it won't be binding in court. You can't give up those kinds of rights.

[beck]

HMMMM Was it children behind the cameras as well?? NO !! There were adults on the set at ALL times, they just weren't in front of the cameras. Let's not just look at what is in front of us, but look what is outside the box as well.