Juvenile Camps May Close

The public should know that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is seriously considering closing 19 juvenile court schools in anticipation of a $35.8 million shortfall in the county Probation Department budget.

If the politicians are successful in closing the juvenile camps, which have served troubled youths in our county for over 60 years, it will affect some 17,000 youngsters and allow many of them to be released before their sentences and their education are completed in the camps. Profile of a typical camp school student is average age, 16 1/2; reading level 5th grade, math level, 6th grade; ethnicity 49% Hispanic, 34% black, 13% white, 2% Asian, and the average number of police contacts are seven, with average number of arrests, three. Assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, rape and murder are the nature of the crimes of the juvenile camp students.

The juvenile camps provide much needed educational opportunities, discipline and a healthy environment for students who are in desperate need of a successful program, and a chance to turn their lives around.

We have educated more than 600 students in the past year. These students have earned over 18,000 accredited high school course units as a result of their attendance. The school has awarded 10 fully accredited high school diplomas, 18 of 20 students have passed the G.E.D. test, and six have enrolled in college programs. Ten students were successfully placed as apprentice carpenters with the Los Angeles Carpenters Union.

In view of the recent riots, citizens in the Los Angeles area are acutely aware of how the lack of education, jobs and job training produces frustrated young citizens who are more amenable to gang activities.

As president of the Los Angeles County Education Assn., I attended the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting on May 26 where I requested to make a presentation. I was not allowed to speak. The teachers in the classrooms in the camps know best what is good for their students. As their representative, I feel it was unwise to keep the supervisors from hearing the teachers’ point of view before making this most important decision.

Incidentally, it costs the state three times as much when a student is sent to a California Youth Authority facility instead of a probation camp. Does it make sense to anyone that the camps would be closed?

TOM COURTNEY, President

Los Angeles County Education Assn.

Alhambra