Date: Fri 28-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Maloney-Garner-juvenile-crime

Full Text:

Going To The Source For Advice On Juvenile Crime

(with cut)

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

For almost five years, Wallis Wood, an author from Sandy Hook, has shared his

writing skills with convicted felons serving time at Garner Correctional

Institution, the state's high-security prison on Nunnawauk Road.

Mr Wood, a volunteer instructor, teaches inmates the writing of fiction and

non-fiction, including poetry, screen writing and play writing, plus how to

write letters, journals and news.

Inmates who participate in Mr Wood's writing classes do so voluntarily. They

are required to turn in a piece of original writing at the beginning of their

weekly sessions. Inmates from age 20 to their 60s have participated.

"Different guys have been good in different things... I've had some incredible

poets... I get stuff that's just magic," Mr Wood said. Recently, the

participants wrote a play as a group.

"I've done all of the things I teach," Mr Wood said of the various forms of

writing he teaches in the classes. Inmates may take successive courses in

writing, provided that they continue to turn in original pieces at each

session.

Learning to write provides its own satisfactions, Mr Wood said, explaining

that developing writing skills is enriching and fulfilling. Writing is a skill

which teaches a person how to think clearly, he said.

Garner inmates in the writing classes are generally brighter and more

articulate that most prisoners at the 750-bed institution, he said.

Juvenile Crime

Writing class members have seen children visiting inmates at Garner. They have

expressed a desire that such children stay out of juvenile crime and avoid

incarceration, according to Mr Wood.

Earlier this summer, Mr Wood reviewed a newsletter from US Rep James Maloney

on steps which Congress could take to reduce juvenile crime. He decided to

invite the congressman to visit his writing class to speak directly with

convicted felons for their ideas on how juvenile crime can be curbed.

"Would you be interested in visiting my class to hear the ideas of eight or

ten true experts on juvenile crime, its roots and possible mitigation? (These

are) men who, for the most part have thought about their lives and who would

like to see the pattern broken," Mr Wood wrote in the letter of inquiry.

Mr Maloney accepted Mr Wood's offer and visited Garner to meet with writing

class members August 21.

(State Department of Correction regulations do not allow the identities of

inmates to be disclosed through published text or photographs).

Mr Maloney told the inmates he is working to expand the use of school resource

officers in public schools to prevent juvenile crime.

"We don't want to lose any more kids (to crime)," the congressman told the

inmates.

One inmate suggested the creation of a "youth hotline" telephone line which

children could call to help them stay out of trouble.

Another prisoner said the damaged structure of the nuclear family is at the

root of the juvenile crime problem. Children are too often left to their own

devices by their parents, he said. He spoke in favor of enhanced school-based

activities, after-school programs and weekend programs. Parents should be more

involved with the lives of their children, the inmate said.

Mr Maloney observed that American society has evolved to a point where it's

become almost necessary that both parents work for a living. The Drug Abuse

Resistance Education (DARE) program helps school children resist drug abuse

for a while, but then its benefits diminish, the congressman said, stressing

the need for school resource officers who work with children in the higher

grades.

One writing program participant suggested that positive relationships be

fostered between schoolchildren and the elderly to stave off youth crime. Mr

Maloney endorsed the idea, suggesting that towns look into it.

A program participant urged that society intervene when troubled youths

initially go wrong, before they descend into a world of juvenile crime. Being

locked up in a prison cell makes prisoners resentful about why no one

intervened to prevent them from becoming criminals, the inmate said.

Practicing religion is one way to improve oneself, he added.

Another prisoner observed "When these young kids get into trouble, they need

somebody to talk to." Locking someone in a prison cell won't solve their

problems, he said.

One writing program member who is 22 years old said he has been incarcerated

since age 13. He recently got out of Garner's "close custody" program in which

the movements of prisoners are strictly limited. The prisoner said his younger

brother's participation in the Big Bother program has proved helpful.

One inmate said that beyond providing social programs for errant youths, those

youths must be indoctrinated in a lifestyle that emphasizes positive values.

There is no single solution to the juvenile crime problem, Mr Maloney said,

adding, though, that the most important component of a solution is

strengthening the functioning of the family.

"This is a matter of making the pieces fit... Waley (Wood) gives the people

here skills and therefore hope," Mr Maloney said.

Mr Maloney said his constituents have told him juvenile crime is one of their

major concerns. In May, he published a report on steps that can be taken to

help solve the problem.

Mr Maloney, a Democrat, is running for reelection to Congress. His opponent is

Republican state Senator Mark Nielsen.