Gangs Cause Camp for Youths to Close

The governor abruptly suspended operation of a boot camp-style school for troubled teen-agers Friday because of gangs, drugs and fighting.

Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. acted after the state’s chief prosecutor delivered a report sharply critical of the National Guard Youth Corps camp, the first established in the nation under a federal program.

Fights, sex, drug use and gambling disrupted the camp, Chief State’s Atty. John Bailey said in his report. Gang members had tried to recruit other corps members before being expelled, he said.

Brig. Gen. David D. Boland resigned as the program’s director earlier this month amid news reports about troubles at the camp, which opened last summer in Niantic, Conn.

While there was sex between some of the girls and boys enrolled in the Youth Corps, Bailey said reports of prostitution were unfounded. He also said only one fight at the camp involved weapons, and that most of the drug use was confined to marijuana.

Connecticut received about $4 million in federal funds, which was to be used to educate 400 students in a year’s time. The program had already graduated 180 students. Its last class of students will graduate July 2 as planned.