Camino OIKOTEN

[gretchen gonzalez]

I remember back in July of 1969 while attending the Voyageur Outward Bound,
one of the girls in our brigade - Terry- had been offered the choice of jail
or taking the month long course. Initially she was quite uncooperative,
always complaining, keeping to herself, etc.
As the days and weeks went by and we all got to know each other well she
told us her story. Her gang had been involved in the death of an opposing
gang member. They had tied this person to some train tracks with the intent
to scare and intimidate. A train appeared and they couldn't get her untied
in time. Terry was one of the gang leaders but still a minor thus she was
given this choice - jail or Outward Bound. I've often wondered what happened
to her. I know that during those last few days in the Boundary Waters of
northern Minnesota - she was anxious about returning to her life back on the
east coast.
My  OB experience was one that made a life time impression - like the
Camino. Lessons learned during that month so many years ago have helped me
in many of life's situations. I hoped they helped Terry.
I'll be on El Camino next April 2004
All the best
Gretchen in Detroit


>From: Rosina Lila <BlaroliaAOL.COM>
>Reply-To: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
>To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
>Subject: Camino OIKOTEN
>Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 12:13:55 EDT
>
>Hello you all,
>For more than ten years Belgium has applied an "Oikoten" quasi-punitive
>judicially approved, whereby young people, between the ages of sixteen and
>twenty-five years of age,  who  have been convicted of fairly minor penal
>offenses,
>may be sent to walk the Camino, under suitable supervision, in lieu of
>going to
>prison.
>The Belgian authorities report that about 60% of these "oikoten" are
>reintroduced into society successfully, and that their recidivism is less
>than half
>that of those who have been imprisoned.
>A plan has been sent to the Spanish parliament to apply the same system to
>young first-time offenders in Spain.  Reportedly, the Parliament has
>accepted
>the plan for study and possible adoption.
>I may add that here in New York we have a somewhat similar system.
>Representing a young, first-time offender, convicted of a not terribly
>serious
>offense,  attorneys often request that the young person be given the option
>of
>enlisting in a branch of the armed services in lieu of being sent to
>prison.  After
>taking into consideration the totality of circumstances surrounding the
>offense, and the character and history of the young person,  our judges
>often agree.
>
>Warm regards,
>Rosina

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