INL ANTICRIME PROGRAM BEARS FRUIT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAO PAULO 000098

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR WHA/BSC BCHIANG
WHA/USOAS RURRY
WHA/PDA CPETERSON
INL/LP AMUIRHEAD
INL/C/CJ TBROWNE
DRL SMOODY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI KCRM SNAR ASEC BR
SUBJECT: INL ANTICRIME PROGRAM BEARS FRUIT

REF: A. 08 Sao Paulo 171; B. 08 Sao Paulo 87 AND PREVIOUS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASIFIED--PROTECT ACCORDINGLY


1. (SBU) Summary: The State of Sao Paulo is making improvements to
its once-notorious juvenile detention system (Fundacao CASA,
formerly known as FEBEM),in part thanks to USG support. The
improvements became clear during a February 3, 2009 visit to two
such facilities by International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
Affairs (INL) reps and Poloff. INL funds pilot substance abuse
treatment initiatives at these facilities to increase prospects for
rehabilitation from drug abuse, reduce relapse/recidivism rates
post treatment, and improve overall psycho-social living conditions.
While much work still needs to be done, the two facilities visited
are noteworthy examples of the progress that can be made given
resources and commitment. End Summary.

CASA FOUNDATION ADDRESSES CRITICISM
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2. (U) Sao Paulo State's Center for the Socio-Educational Care of
the Adolescent (CASA) Foundation (formerly known by the acronym
FEBEM) manages Brazil's juvenile detention system. After complaints
of serious overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and allegations of
torture, CASA reorganized in 2006 and is trying to clean up its act
and its image. The Bureau for International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Affairs' (INL) Office of Anticrime Programs funds two
pilot programs at CASA facilities to reduce drug use and related
violence among juvenile detainees, improve psycho-social living
conditions, and add a rehabilitation component to CASA's primary
focus on incarceration (Reftels A and B).


3. (U) Poloff accompanied representatives from INL as they visited
the two new facilities where they are implementing a pilot
therapeutic drug counseling program. The first location in Aruja
houses only male offenders between the ages of 12 and 20.
(Administrators stated that most residents were between 14 and 16
years of age and Poloff did not observe any residents that seemed
significantly older or younger). In contrast to the conditions
described by visitors to other facilities, the Aruja facility is
modern, clean, and colorful. The facility holds a maximum of 56
inmates and distinguishes between adolescents detained on a
provisional basis, i.e. those awaiting sentencing and those already
convicted. Up to 16 "provisional" detainees are housed separately
from the general population. The provisional detainees attend a
program focused on good citizenship, respect for self and others,
and goal setting.


4. (U) Forty boys are held on a more permanent basis. These
adolescents have already been convicted and, on average, stay at the
facility for one year (three years maximum). The Aruja facility has
seven teachers from the local school system that come to teach
primary and secondary education classes. In addition, the boys are
expected to complete coursework in self-esteem, planning,
decision-making, values and ethics. There are two full time
psychologists on staff and all of the boys are expected to attend
weekly counseling sessions. INL has sub-contracted Daytop
International, an organization that specializes in therapeutic
communities and counseling, to help CASA develop a program focused
on rehabilitation and integration into society rather than
punishment.


5. (U) Mr. Dorival Cardoso Lima, Administrator of the Aruja
facility, explained that CASA is moving to address past problems.
The Aruja facility is one of the newer, smaller facilities run as a
partnership between a local NGO and the CASA Foundation. Rather
than build large-scale facilities far from a detainee's family that
are run predominantly by the State, CASA now builds smaller
facilities closer to the local communities and has a local NGO run
the administrative and counseling aspects of the program. [Note:
These newer facilities are the result of previous recommendations by
INL to the former FEBEM system to reduce overcrowding and violence,
in addition to addressing the drug addiction problems of juvenile

SAO PAULO 00000098 002 OF 002


detainees. End Note.] CASA provides the physical facility and
security while the NGO staff (in this case trained by Daytop)
handles the daily interaction with the detainees. This model allows
the detainees to maintain ties with their families and reduces the
alienating "factory" aspects of the large-scale detention centers.


6. (U) CASA also opened a new facility for adolescent girls in
Guarulhos in November 2008. Daytop is providing the training for
this facility as well. When Poloff visited, the Guarulhos facility
only housed 12 girls, but like the Aruja facility for boys, it will
hold up to 56 adolescent girls when it reaches full capacity.

CLEAR IMPROVEMENT BUT MANY MILES TO GO
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7. (SBU) Comment: The Aruja and Guarulhos facilities demonstrate
the State of Sao Paulo's commitment to improved conditions for
juvenile detention. INL arranged this visit to monitor the
implementation of Daytop's programs within the CASA facilities, but
also brought local researchers who will conduct a short-term outcome
evaluation (feasibility study) that includes interviews of facility
administrators, workers and detainees and post-release follow-up to
gain a better perspective on program implementation fidelity and the
pilot projects' impact on drug abuse and related crime/violence
rates. Based on the outcome evaluation results, INL will encourage
CASA to rapidly expand the project from two pilot facilities to a
program that is state-wide. End Comment.

8. (U) This cable was cleared with INL.
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