As a founding member of the Arts for Incarcerated Youth Network (AIYN), The Unusual Suspects is honored to be the first arts organization serving the newly renovated juvenile detention facility, Campus Kilpatrick as part of The LA Model, a collective effort to realize a more therapeutic, holistic treatment of youth during incarceration.

• Developed in partnership with LA County Probation, the LA County Office of Education, the LA County Arts Commission and many community-based organizations, this shift toward a more rehabilitative approach for youth in the juvenile justice system invites resident teaching artists to have a seat at the table to better address the specific needs of our incarcerated youth, including reentry into their communities.
• In addition to prioritizing academic engagement, the model recognizes the value of the arts in juvenile justice reform. The re-designed Campus Kilpatrick now includes a theatre, scene shop, and control booth where incarcerated minors can perform for their peers and families, build sets, and learn about other technical elements of a theatrical production.
• Beginning in August, The Unusual Suspects’ first 3-month program will include in-class and after-school workshops. Then in October, we will hand off instruction to another AIYN partner organization. To ensure continuous arts access for the youth incarcerated at Campus Kilpatrick, this process will repeat throughout the year.
• The first Unusual Suspects teaching artist assigned to Campus Kilpatrick is currently training with Probation Officers to learn about their approaches, strategies, and best practices.

The LA Model is an innovative approach that will require flexibility and patience. Executive Director Melissa Denton remarks: “It will be very important for us to be truly collaborative with these partners. There will be a lot of voices in the room, and that is sometimes hard, but by using the elements we teach the kids in our own workshops, we’re certainly up to the challenge.“

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