VAN NUYS : Students Hear Visiting Prosecutors

When Laura Van Eyk was young, her father never came to school. He was in prison for selling drugs.

On Tuesday, Van Eyk, now a prosecutor, went back to school, this time as part of a new program showing kids the dangers and consequences of crime.

To help launch Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn’s adopt-a-school program, Van Eyk and fellow Deputy City Atty. Kjehl Johansen visited a class of fourth-graders at Sylvan Park School in Van Nuys. To kick off the discussion, they brought a videotape in which one student asked another to hide her drugs.

The students debated the request, with several citing the danger to younger brothers and sisters. Others said they would tell a parent. Many were surprised to learn that they could be imprisoned for possessing drugs, whether they owned them or not.

“If you’re hiding drugs, you go to Juvenile Hall, which is a jail for kids,” Van Eyk said.

The one-hour session also dealt with the legal system, from search warrants to fairness. Leonardo Hernandez, 9, wanted to know if lawyers really fight in the courtroom.

“I guess you can call it a fight,” Johansen replied. “But we fight with words, not with our fists.”

Mike Squalls, a spokesman for Hahn’s office, said Johansen and Van Eyk, who are based in Van Nuys, are the first prosecutors in Los Angeles to participate in the program, visiting the school once a week to discuss everything from gangs to careers in law. Officials hope to have the program running at 12 schools throughout the city later this year.

The sooner the better, fourth-grade teacher Marilyn Daley said.

“The kids need to know the consequences of their choices. I think waiting to the sixth grade with this program is too late,” Daley said.