Human Experiment in Treatment

of Youthful Offenders Pays Off

*
By
GORDON FORBES

*

HUMAN EXPERIMENT in
A treatment of youthful first-

offenders has paid off a grati-
fying 100 per cent for the British
Columbia Forest Service.

On June 19 this year a group of 12
lads was taken from Oakalla Prison
to a forestry camp at Kettle Valley in
the Nelson area. They were young
men who had come into conflict with
the law through the over-exuberance
of their youth.

The boys were given exactly the
same treatment as hundreds of other
youths in ten other forestry depart-
ment “youth training camps.” They
did the same work. Only difference
was that they composed a complete
camp of first offenders.

Lands and Forests Minister E. T.
Kenney, who originated the plan,
reports now that there was not “a
‘single defection” during the summer-
long camp.

The boys are not treated as crim-
inals. In fact, the very important
thing about the camp is that they are
separated from chronic criminals dur-
ing their time at the camp. If they had
remained in prison, they may have
associated with hardened criminals
and emerged the worse for the ex-
perience.

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*
Phone 71 Campbell River, B.C.

TWENTY-FOURTH EDITION

These youths were pictured washing up in a stream next to camp before digging into a hearty
meal. All boys at B.C. Forest Service camps are paid $3 a day plus board and transportation
to and from home. None of the pictures on these pages were taken at first offenders’ camp.

The camp was supervised by the
district forest ranger and the boys
came under the direct supervision of
“custodian” Robert Deildal, appoint-
ed by the penal institution.

Treated as potential citizens with a
ereat contribution to make to the
state and society, the boys responded
by co-operating to the fullest.

The forestry service anticipates
their progress and co-operation to the
point where they may eventually find
permanent employment with the
forest industry or administration.

Officials are intending to expand
this branch of their work materially.
The success of this initial camp un-
doubtedly will spur this effort.

The boys are employed on con-
struction of forest-protection roads

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Phone 4

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*
Phone 123

Campbell River, B.C.

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CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C.

Page Forty-three