Camp Paper Leaves Its Imprint on Offenders

Behind the high concrete walls of a Los Angeles County juvenile probation center in the Santa Monica Mountains, a dozen boys clad in orange shorts and white T-shirts discussed deadlines and tossed around story ideas.

While serving time at Camp David Gonzales, they run a newspaper, Behind the Wall, that is unusual for a youth publication in several respects.

For one thing, there are two editions, different in an uncommon way. About 200 copies are circulated within the camp, with pictures of residents and full names on bylines; an additional 100 copies, with faces obscured and last names omitted, are distributed to Juvenile Court judges and members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, which funds the camp.

Then there is the constant turnover.

Finally, there’s the wide scope of the newspaper’s topics.

Recent issues have included stories on subjects ranging from the war in Afghanistan to the failure of Bernard C. Parks to win a second term as chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. Regular features include horoscopes and reviews of the weekly videos shown to camp residents who exhibit good behavior.

By all accounts, the paper is a hit. The boys say it helps them pass their days, gives them an outlet for expression and even allows them to hone skills useful on the outside.

Judges responsible for the county’s juvenile justice system give the publication high marks, saying it provides them an unusual window into camp operations.

The publication offers the boys the opportunity to interact positively with society, said Jo Kaplan, a member of the county Probation Commission.

“I think this gives them some insight into their ability to change things through writing,” Kaplan said, “with a pen, rather than fighting and anger. They’re not going to stay locked up forever.” The paper, which has published six editions so far, is the brainchild of Kaplan; another commission member, Carol Biondi; and Katrina Dewey, editor of the Los Angeles Daily Journal.

“The need for a communication method within the camp is pretty serious,” Dewey said. “They don’t know a lot about the good or bad that goes on within the camp, let alone the outside world.”

Judges and probation officers in the juvenile justice system say the paper provides them insight into the children they’re making decisions about.

“It gives them a good outlet for making their concerns about the system known,” said Victor Greenberg, a Juvenile Court commissioner. “Whether or not there’s agreement, it’s still important to know how they feel.”

Greenberg said he was impressed with the tone. The publication could have been used merely as a vehicle for complaints, which hasn’t happened, he said.

“From what I’m seeing, they’re straightforward ... but the articles are approaching both their problems in camp and their successes in a very constructive way.”

Christian, 17, agreed. He said the adults don’t censor them.

“But we don’t criticize stuff,” he said. “We don’t go against them or with them. It’s a privilege having a newspaper here.”

Christian types and proofreads the articles and designs pages. He recently wrote about the fourth victory by cancer survivor Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France.

For the first time in Christian’s life, he is keeping a journal. “When I listen to a song, I remember something and I write that down,” he said. “When I smell a fragrance and think of someone, I write that down. I didn’t do that before.”

A graduate of Crenshaw High School, Christian said writing has become therapeutic. “All the wrath that builds up during the day, I write it down at night,” he said. “Slowly, I’m relieving my anger.”

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On a recent Saturday morning, members of the newspaper staff took their seats around a long table among stacks of copies of the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and other publications.

Wilfredo, a tattoo spread across his neck, stood at the head of the table. As editor in chief, he ran the weekly editorial planning meeting.

About 20 boys work on the paper at any given time. But the staff changes constantly as youths get sent home or to other facilities. At this meeting, Wilfredo looked out at teenagers of different races, from different neighborhoods across the county, most of whom are associated with different, and sometimes rival, street gangs.

The main order of business was preparing the list of topics to be covered in the coming issue. Using everyday newspaper lingo, the boys called it a “budget.”

The opinion section needed material, Wilfredo said. World news stories were skimpy too, he said. They had only a story about the Inglewood police officers indicted in the beating of 16-year-old Donovan Jackson. “It’s better if we get two more stories,” Wilfredo said.

They talked about assigning two reporters to cover a baseball game against another youth probation camp, to be played that afternoon at Camp Gonzales. One could write the news story, another could do an opinion piece.

Wilfredo warned the staff members who volunteered not to act like those sent to cover the last game, who shouted obscenities at the opposing team. And, “Please, no pictures of throwing signs or homies kickin’ it,” Wilfredo instructed a photographer.

With the budget filled, papers rustled and pencils scribbled as the boys got to work--writing and doing research. The editor gave one last directive: “When you guys write, really express yourself.”

Most involved said they had discovered the joy of writing. “I like how you get to express how you feel and write about what’s happening in the world,” said Jesse, 15. “I got on the newspaper, and my whole thing changed. Before, I thought the way I was going to live is gangbanging.”