Bill introduced to save youth camp

A bill has been introduced to legislature that could save the Naselle Youth Camp from closure. The Sentence for Treatment bill would be an alternative for juvenile courts. While NYC is not named in the bill, it is the intended location for the direct to treatment option.

Bill supporters say this would make fiscal sense for the state which is facing supreme cuts due to a budget shortfall. This option would save money for the state in youth detention costs and create a larger mission for the camp with more stable funding.

Senate Bill 6039, sponsored by Senator Brian Hatfield and House Bill 2234, sponsored by Representatives Dean Takko and Brian Blake would allow sentenced youth to be directed immediately to the camp.

The court would establish treatment and educational goals which, when completed would allow them to transition into the community under close supervision.

“Many people believe education should be our state’s top priority, and others say public safety should be number one. This idea works for both,” said John Gjovik, a program manager at NYC.

“The quicker these kids can get to Naselle, with the setting and the programs it offers, the sooner they can get on with their life, while they’re breaking free of the outside influences which got them into trouble in the first place.”

The 2009-11 budget proposed by the governor would cut funding for juvenile rehabilitation and close the last state-run youth camp. Two others have been closed in the past 10 years.

Word around Olympia is that key lawmakers won’t accept the governor’s plan. While it is encouraging, advocates for NYC say it doesn’t address the long term future of the youth camp.