Mark Salzman found himself, inadvertently, involved in a writing program for incarcerated juvenile offenders, called InsideOUT. The mission of InsideOUT, quoted from their own website, is this: “InsideOUT Writers conducts weekly writing classes within the Los Angeles County Juvenile Hall System. The classes, taught by writers, poets, screenwriters, journalists and educators, give students the opportunity to refocus their lives without the influence of peer pressure and build their self-esteem. Through writing, participants are able to tell their stories, reflect on the past, and decide how they will write the next chapter of their lives.”
Sister Janet Harris describes InsideOUT this way: “The goal of Inside Out Writers is to give these young people a chance to express themselves, and feel that someone is listening. Karen and Duane don’t tell their students what to write, or tell them that gangs and crime and drugs are wrong. They listen.” (Page 24)
The main precipitator of juvenile criminal behavior seems to be gang involvement. Jimmy wrote: “I started to hang with gangsters. . . One thing led to another, somehow I got pulled under. The next thing I knew, I was in jail for committing a crime.” (Page 68) Nathaniel knew nothing except for gang life. The first line of a rap he wrote says, “Now I’m stuck ‘cuz I was born into a life of crime.” (Page 167) After getting beat up because he crossed the wrong street while wearing the wrong color clothing, he wrote: “I walked the rest of the way to the hood thinking, That’s just a part of that life I live.” (Page 141)
The main precipitator of gang involvement seems to be a sense of not belong, often caused by an absent father. Patrick wrote: “Even though we are distant, I still love him. I love my dad!” (Page 63) Jimmy wrote: “And then my dad got married. To a person that I disliked. When that happened, he really let me down. I began to hate my father. My heart was full of anger. In the sea of rage I began to drown. I started to hang with gangsters.” (Page 68) Patrick wrote: “Ryan’s friends were different. They were from a gang. . . It seemed like they were like one happy family having fun, and I wanted to be a part of that family.” (Page 93) Francisco wrote about stealing a car for parts in order hide is mother’s wrecked care from his father. His father was abusive; Francisco was attempting to protect his mother. Frontuto wrote a powerful poem expressing the effect an absentee father had on him: “So by not having a fatherly figure, I turned to the streets and learned how to pull a trigger.” (Page 299)
The juveniles show a tremendous amount of remorse through their writing. Antonio wrote: “I now realize how precious life really is. It’s too bad that I am probably never going to be able to show the world what I have to offer.” (Page 7) Kevin wrote: “I know that if I do get the blessing receiving my freedom back, I will try to do something that will help me to feel like I have a meaning on this earth.” (Page 54) Francisco said, “We fightin’ over streets we don’t even own.” (Page 141) Wong wrote what an argument between his Conscience and his Mind might be like when he was released. The Conscience say things like, “I think I better stay at home to study more so I can transfer to USC in my junior year . . . . I remember I promised myself to study hard when I get out . . . I can’t let down all the people that gave me a second chance!” (Page 201-2) The conscience won.
Mr. Salzman highlighted the effects of fatherlessness and gangs on juvenile criminal behavior. One leads to the other. A child without a father is often left to fend for themselves. When the children feel anchorless, they turn to an accepting group, most likely a gang. The gang provides the emotional and family support, superficially, that the child longs for. In order to maintain their position in the gang, the child is willing to do whatever it takes, including criminal behavior.
True Notebooks reveals how truly childlike juvenile offenders are. It points out how the juvenile justice system is failing them. It highlights how the system allows one mistake, albeit a serious one, to ruin a child’s life, leaving the child with no hope of a future. It personifies the faults in the juvenile justice system in a way that makes one become serious about finding solutions to hard problems.
True Notebooks is true insight.
True Notebooks, by Mark Salzman
- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: Knopf; 1 edition (September 16, 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0375413081
- ISBN-13: 978-037541308
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