Wilson Urged to Save Probation Camps : Crime: The juvenile detention facilities may close May 1 because Los Angeles County lacks the $60 million needed to operate them.

A San Fernando Valley lawmaker presented Gov. Pete Wilson with a letter Wednesday urging him to save Los Angeles County juvenile probation camps, where young criminals serve sentences, from closure in May.

“The consequences to Los Angeles County will be dangerous and costly if the probation camps are closed,” Assemblyman Terry B. Friedman (D-Brentwood) said in an interview.

The camps are scheduled to close May 1 because the county, which faces an $845.5-million deficit, lacks the $60 million needed to operate them, Friedman said.

“Due to a lack of funding, the county will be forced to eliminate all 19 probation camps . . .despite nearly 60 years of operation as a proven, effective sanction,” wrote Friedman. The letter was signed by every senator and assemblyman representing Los Angeles County, except for Sen. Robert G. Beverly (R-Redondo Beach).

“Up to 2,100 criminal offenders would immediately return to the streets without appropriate intervention. These juveniles pose a serious risk. The majority . . . have committed serious, violent crimes, such as armed robbery, drive-by shootings, assault and carjackings,” Friedman wrote.

Friedman contends that the camps are cheaper to operate than the state’s California Youth Authority and are more successful at keeping youths from becoming repeat offenders.

“More than half of the young offenders committed to the camps do not re-offend,” Friedman wrote. “Nearly 80% of those committed to the program’s unique Drug Treatment Boot Camp remain arrest-free following release.”

Friedman said efforts by county and state officials to find funding for the camps have been unproductive, and state officials have rejected county proposals to solve the funding problem in recent discussions. He said the scheduled closure of the camps has alarmed the County Board of Supervisors, other public and school officials, law enforcement agencies and citizens.