Veterans of youth detention, teens who have lived on both sides of Victoria Youth Custody CentreB次元官网网址檚 walls, are sharing their wisdom in an effort to keep other young people out of jail.

Six youth in custody contributed to a graphic novel based on personal experiences B次元官网网址� their hopes, fears and challenges as they attempt to successfully transition back into society.

B次元官网网址淲e took kids who were in the system quite a bit to share their insider knowledge to other youth who are new to the system,B次元官网网址� said project co-ordinator Kate Creedon, a counsellor at the custody centre. B次元官网网址淭he ones who are in and out are experts in what to do and what not to do because theyB次元官网网址檝e lived it for years.B次元官网网址�

Creedon was a graduate student researching youth transitioning out of custody through the University of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Centre for Youth and Society during the creation of the graphic novel.

In and Out follows Corey as he violates his probation, reenters the custody centre, builds a relationship on the outside and fights pressure from his brother to reoffend.

The story is based on the experiences of the authors and their peers who were successful in transitioning out of custody B次元官网网址� a process they agreed was reliant on establishing new, healthy relationships, connecting to school or training programs and finding employment. But with incarcerated youth in B.C. reading at an average Grade 4 level, job prospects are dim. The 76 per cent recidivism rate in the province is closely correlated to their literacy skills, Creedon said.

As Creedon helped the teens identify which ideas they wanted most to impart on new offenders, some would stop short of writing on the white board for fear of demonstrating weak language skills in front of their peers.

B次元官网网址淲e just talked about (that) we were trying to educate people about literacy and take the shame out of it. They were willing to work through that together and be patient with each other and write as a team, to use each othersB次元官网网址� strengths and weaknesses to come up with the final project.B次元官网网址�

Words are paired with illustrations by Meghan Bell, a former employee of the Centre for Youth and Society, a research centre that promotes the health and well-being of youth.

The authors took ownership of both the content, reviewing pages from Bell as they were completed.

B次元官网网址淚 was surprised that a lot of the kids were really interested,B次元官网网址� Creedon said. B次元官网网址淚 wasnB次元官网网址檛 really sure if the idea of the literacy angle would be appealing and I wasnB次元官网网址檛 sure if a graphic novel would be appealing, but they were really excited.B次元官网网址�

The Centre for Youth and Society regularly disseminates research through a variety of mediums, including visual art and video, with the aim of making knowledge accessible to those who will make decisions and act on it, said Tricia Roche, manager of research and community partnerships for the centre.

B次元官网网址�(We) wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have been satisfied with the knowledge sitting on a shelf in the library,B次元官网网址� Roche said. B次元官网网址淣ot everyoneB次元官网网址檚 going to sit down and read a thesis and people with literacy issues arenB次元官网网址檛 going to.B次元官网网址�

The youth who participated canB次元官网网址檛 be identified, or contacted for interviews, but have submitted 100 per cent positive written feedback on the project.

B次元官网网址淚t was cool because it was real kids talking about real stuff,B次元官网网址� wrote one youth.

B次元官网网址淚t was cool people trusted us to do this,B次元官网网址� wrote another.

For Creedon, the steps between pitching the project to celebrating its completion with a group viewing of graphic novel-inspired film X-Men, didnB次元官网网址檛 come easily.

B次元官网网址淚t was one of the hardest groups that IB次元官网网址檝e done,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 was so proud of my kids for completing this and working through the challenges and being patient with the process and IB次元官网网址檓 thrilled that the community is so interested in what theyB次元官网网址檙e doing.B次元官网网址�

In and Out will be distributed to youth custody centres across the province and is available to the public online at . The Victoria Community Literacy Plan and the Victoria Family Court and Youth Justice Committee funded the project.

nnorth@saanichnews.com