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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶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 - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - ¶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. WHITE