The morning session focused on mental health of children in
the juvenile justice system. I learned about a training called “Mental Health
First Aid” that has been proven to reduce suicide rates and rates of self-mutilation
among detained youth and prisoners. We
also heard from experts from around the world who were in agreement that what
children need is the consistent love and care of a committed adult. This helps them with the safety, protection
they need. It helps them imagine a life beyond their terrible circumstances,
and the path out of their difficult life. It helps them process the
difficulties of poverty, addiction, family disintegration, discrimination, and
other factors which lead to widespread depression among children vulnerable to victimization
and becoming offenders.
“We must not let our jails and detention centers become
substitutes for weak or non-existence social care networks,” said one delegate.
These children have “little wishes,” said another delegate, “
non-judgmental listening, 2 showers a week, a phone call to Mom every day, more
than one hour visitation. These things don’t cost much, and can go a long way
for kids in detention.”
“They need to see the face of a parent or someone acting as
a parent at the table every night; this can change the trajectory of children
at risk.”
Another expert from the World Health Organization said “what
kids need is one person to look out after them, the personal relationship of
one person to help them get back on track.”
Panelists hit upon several themes that I have experienced
when speaking with kids in Durham about what they need.
Guidance and Support:
First at risk youth have trouble at home; their family cannot provide guidance
and support. Being raised by a grandmother, or aunt who is over worked –
without the steady love and support of mothers or fathers, it is hard to find
love and support at home. Kids often face a variety of mental health problems including moderate depression, and need professional health care.
Economic Opportunity:
Second, at risk youth want to make money. It is really easy to make a lot of
money very quickly in gangs. There are no other economic opportunities on the
Street for legitimate work that can compete with the lure of cash in a gang.
Protection:
Third, they said they need protection. If they resist street culture, they get
picked on, demeaned, bullied. So “if you can’t beat them, join them,” one young
lady said. If they aspire or dream for
something more than the street, they become targets of ridicule. So many people
are depressed and angry about not being able to succeed in a legitimate way,
that there is an attitude that if I can’t have it, I don’t want it.
Peer group:
Fourth, they said the gangs provide a group of peers who know what they are
going through and who understand their struggles without judging them. They
feel a part of something, they belong.
The broader community needs effective social support system
to supplement a struggling structure and change the trajectory of these young
people away from committing offenses. These kids need this loving support to
thrive and flourish in our communities.
The United Nations Office of Drug and Crimes offers a manual
on the measurement of juvenile justice programs and the improvement of the
treatment of juveniles. http://www.unodc.org/pdf/criminal_justice/06-55616_ebook.pdf
There are also the Minimum Rules for the treatment of
Juveniles, called the Beijing Rules, http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/beijingrules.htm
Social Reintegration of Former Offenders into society
We attended another session later in the morning on the
social reintegration of offenders into communities and the way this prevents
recidivism. An advocate for
international victim’s rights said that victim’s benefit from re-socialization programs,
and are comforted by strong programs that help offenders return to the
community under the care and supervision of reintegration programs.
In Thailand they have a “yellow ribbon” ceremony welcoming the
former offender back into the community. These are genuine community celebrations
that make the former offenders feel like they genuinely have a second chance in
the community and that the former offender has support in the community.
A good re-socialization and reintegration program greatly
reduces recidivism the delegates agreed.
The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime offers a
handbook on social reintegration of offenders into society. http://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/cjat_eng/4_Social_Reintegration.pdf
After our sessions we jumped on a train back to London and landed
in a hotel at Gatwick airport. We fell over exhausted.
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