Uncertain future for adolescents

Overcrowding. Limited economic resources. Few training programmes. Deterioration of physical structures. Reduced security and specialized personnel. They are only five aspects that describe the uncertainty with which operates eight centres of comprehensive care for adolescents in conflict with the law that exist in the country

Live in such households 582 adolescents, according to statistics from the national comprehensive care, until 14 November 2011.

With more progress than others. On each visit, LISTÍN DIARIO reporters were able to observe that few comply fully with the provisions of law 136-03 or the juvenile code to ensure their reintegration partner labour.

And while some are handled with a petty cash of 15 thousand pesos, from time to time, others receive a grant of RD$ 600,000, the amount still insufficient to develop the necessary programmes. They need more workshops, vehicles for u000atransporting the boys to hearings and areas for sports, expand and improve physical facilities, hospitals and, in some countries, to bed, because many sleeping on the floor.

A part exceeds its capacity. Lack of a monitoring policy to young people, once freed, except San Cristóbal, which even determined, through the 2006 study, 80% of its graduates are reintegrated in average labour

La Attorney administers four: Najayo, Santiago, Manoguayabo and San Francisco, where there are more needs.

Public health is in charge of four others: two in the capital, one in San Cristóbal and another in La Vega, where you could verify further progress in the implementation of programmes.

All have a library, donated by the Commissioner of justice. Some have been able to establish a system of formal education and literacy.

Home model with economic constraints
considered u000aas a centre model, the Preparatory Institute for minors of San Cristóbal, directed by religious tertiary cappuccino, operates under the philosophy of coexistence and the mystique of re education, preparation of adolescents and support to the community

55 Years of existence, with a wide physical space which houses 80 teenagers in conflict with the law, the Centre has installed 12 técnicos-ocupacionales workshops, a basic school, farming, poultry farming, rabbit breeding, horticulture and other educational activities that keep young people occupied from 6: 30 in the morning until 10: 00 pm.

With beds and pavilions where bars in the doors do not exist. There all studied.

Leave once they are given a follow-up of three to six months depending on the case.

Are guaranteed to study, they join a group of the community, a Labour Office, sports and have a family to the host.

The Center, in u000athe Ministry of public health, receives a State subsidy of 600 thousand pesos a month, which according to its authorities are inadequate, that 80 per cent is invested in food

Director for 13 years, father Carlos Montoya Elizondo, recognizes that financial resources limit the increase of the workshops, which everyone knows are good and help, but they are expensive, because they are apprentices.

"Sometimes have to scratch too to have things, because they can not touch is food and medicine", says.

The structure physics, which dates from more than 50 years, requires repair, that she is affected with cracks, leaks and poor condition of the floors. In addition, requires staff, because there are some pending retirement, whose process is slow.

La Attorney help with incentives to staff, paid some employees and provides assistance when requested, because it is not fixed.

Montolya u000aHe says that fuel invest 45 thousand pesos monthly.

When developing a working smithy and timber, such as curtains, furniture, beds, among others, are sold, and they receive other revenue by repair of certain vehicles.

requires enable new areas
of recent creation, Manoguayabo, municipality Santo Domingo West, downtown was built with a capacity to accommodate 90 inmates, from 13 to 15 years, but only received 35, because it still has outstanding empowerment areas and workshops occupational.

Administered by the Attorney General, the Center opened its doors on January 13 this year and began receiving inmates in the month of May. Currently has 34 adolescents.

With a fine infrastructure, the Centre requires expanding their programmes to support the rehabilitation and vocational technical training, so they are waiting for the installation of workshops of u000aelectromechanics of carpentry and Blacksmithing.

Meanwhile, works in adolescent literacy, about 45 per cent is illiterate, and in technical trades in workshops in crafts that have enabled them to develop works in plaster and hammocks, of reading, painting and typical music. Need more educators.

Has a school for basic education nascent, but expected the appointment of five professors. Its Director, the psychologist Lilian Ortega, says that there the Centre works with the mystique of home. From May to date has received two for 110 teenagers with crime linked to drugs, robberies, quarrels, homicide, usually committed by first time.

physical structure and transport
the Institute preparatory maximum Antonio Alvarez, La Vega, is the second with capacity of space in the country.

In him an average of 74 young people between 13 and 20 years, converge u000aof which more than 80 percent meets sanctions for crimes of murder, followed by robbery and theft. The rest is preventive.

The physical space there is no problem. Its structure is designed to accommodate 400 people, but it is a construction built in the era of Trujillo that has not been renovated, so it presents a marked deterioration, which is evident in the cracks, leaks and the poor condition of the painting.

But in the general sense in the center work programs of rehabilitation to ensure the occupation useful youth while they meet their sanctions, it has limitations for its failure to fully comply with the code.

No account with variety of técnicos-vocacionales, workshops and a vehicle for the transfer of adolescents to the courts, which must be assigned by the Attorney General of the Republic.

Has also been unable to comply with the mandate of the Act of placing in pavilions u000aIn addition to those who exceed the majority of age.

"This flag to separate them is not possible yet because these areas were not created, the law was created before the areas and this is one of the flaws," explains Ana Maria Castillo, responsible for the Regional Department of re-education.

They have plans to open a multi-grade school, whose tools are available, but lack them the appointment of teachers, as well as a tailor, to open only awaiting the delivery of sewing machines.

Account with workshops of literature, computations, painting, chess, crafts, hairdressing, theatre and pantomime.

They play sports, which has allowed it to gain several trophies in competitions of basketball competions or neighborhood.

In his area youth develop agriculture, which allows you to harvest food and vegetables. They are in project developing work of rearing pigs and chicken.

Boys are interested in u000alearn computer, tailoring and hairdressing. Account with doctor assigned, counselors, psychologists, educators, and dentists.

workshops and educational classrooms needed
with physical spaces limited and lack of workshops or other tools to take time and distract the mind, in the center of comprehensive care for adolescents in conflict with the law of San Francisco de Macorís, live for months young people aged between 13 and 17 years detained in a manner preventive.

Relatively young, this unit opened on May 8, 2008 in a House rented with capacity to accommodate 20 young people.

Space limited, has a small lounge multi-purpose, including dining room, a stadium and an area of offices, including a doctor's Office that still not premiered by lack of a professional in this area.

Also requires the appointment of more educators to accompany the internal.

Is u000aled by the counselor and educator Hipólito Antonio Grullón, who recognizes the limitations of the Center for lack of human resources, material and physical.

The teachings offered them himself or staff available. Hosts an average of between 10 and 12 different provinces youth charged with murder, drugs, rape and robbery.

Najayo, the more overpopulated and accumulated
the Center for comprehensive care for adolescents in conflict with the law in Najayo is more village

Exceeds its capacity. It was built to accommodate 220 boys, but has 277, all distributed in 14 cells, staying at some 30 inmates.

By conflict among them adolescents, some own eren change room, generating some be more appropriate, but found no beds, so are forced to sleep on the floor in mattresses. Also move when damaged them the TV or the u000afridge.

Ramona Coronado, Director of the Center, recognizes that no programs needed are developing these adolescents achieve a return to work, because he understands is required a multi-sector intervention which not has been achieved.

Physical facilities are descuidadas by the lack of painting and scratching on the walls by young people themselves. This is seen mainly in the area of the cell.

Resources of the United Nations agency for children (Unicef) provided through Caritas Dominican, rooms are repaired to make bathrooms inside, because they bathe outside, in a common area and placing table of cement in the wall.

They are forced to cover the area of the beds with cloth and blankets to protect themselves from mosquitoes and clarity.

With the excuse of having few policemen, about 50 inmates are taken to the Court once a week.

"We have a program adapted to the" u000a"I can do with the resources we receive", said Juliana Maríñez, administering, who recognizes that there are few workshops and personnel for surveillance. They do not require the amount of petty cash, but they are aware that the funds are few to cover all needs.

Economic canteens are food, gas and diesel for two vehicles assigned.

"They bring us a petty cash so we solve the little problems, it is very little, is the same as 2006, when there were fewer than 120", points Coronado. For lack of a container for garbage, they improvised a landfill in the agricultural area, where they have planted bananas and guandules. In a reflection room, separated the boys more conflictive.

an only Centre for women
the Preparatory Institute for girls, Villa Consuelo, is the only one that receives the girls who received. With capacity for 22, but has 26. "Sometimes" u000aI am 35 and 37, ranges from 22 to 39 and 40, "said Milagros Altagracia Núñez, Director of the Centre.

With a grant from 195,000 pesos, this Center is managed with limitations.

Resources are allocated for the purchase of food and maintenance of the House.

Núñez argues that if they receive food from the economic as other homes, canteens could allocate resources from food to other areas, because sometimes the budget is very tight.

"I did not pick up fiao, but ask for help," says Núñez. Receives support from religious visiting the Centre and the parents of the girls for the payment of the taxi, when they go to the courts, because they have no vehicles.

Hosts to preventive 11 and sanctioned 16. There remain those who purchased the age of majority, in pursuance of a provision that may qualify if they behave well, which Núñez considers only should apply if they have space.

Count u000athree of 11 iron beds, double rooms. When it exceeds its capacity, pulling mattresses on the floor. The House needs repairs, since it has leaks. Develops a program of formal education, computer science, sewing and beauty classes

preventive impaired
the Center for assessment and referral of the child (CERMENOR), in Christ the King, only hosts to teenage boys who violate the law, but are still in the pre-trial phase, i.e. pending a conviction court.

But although the code for the system of protection and fundamental rights of children and Adolescents establishes a maximum 30 days in custody, they usually last over that time.

Explained its director, Sócrates Sánchez, some teens remain there for 9 months, due to the court proceedings and the constant forwards from the knowledge of the cases in the u000acourts.

With a current population of 30 adolescents, 10 less of its capacity, which is 40, are distributed in four rooms. Although it is expected that they last a short time, two years ago the authorities managed to establish a literacy programme, after observing boys accuse low level of schooling and in some cases, they are illiterate.

Sánchez says that they have obtained good results, because they have succeeded in that many young people learn to read and write, because to they receive them with low levels of schooling. Many of them are not declared in the civil register.

However, this work of teaching has limitations, as does a social educator whose responsibility at the Centre is not formal, teach only guidelines.

The reason is that they do not have teachers, because they have not had a positive response from the Ministry of education, which was asked to appoint a teacher.

The u000aboys basketball practice and participate in recreational activities. In the dining room have a TV that take turns to see it, because the area is very small.

Precisely because of the narrowness of the facilities, the same room is used as a library, as classroom classes and work social.

Lack of spaces to locate computers that several institutions have offered.

The transport to the courts is a problem, because they only have a vehicle. When they have to send to look for food sent the boys to the courts in taxis.

Policy of the Centre towards adolescents is equal for all, regardless of the crime, said Sanchez. "My role is not to tell them if they are guilty or not, treatment of them is the same," says, but worrying because they maintain the discipline,.

Satisfied with specialized personnel, because they have two doctors, two dentists, a nurse, three social workers. All u000athe staff is paid by health public.

From which come the boys undergo a medical checkup to see the conditions of health and treat any ailment. Sánchez laments that there are few networks of support centres, professionals such as family members, because some internal anyone visit.

neighbors call for the transfer of the criminal
the location is the main problem of the center of Integral attention of Santiago, which is why the community requires his transfer of Bella Vista. It was built three years next to two schools, a medical centre and a Catholic Church.

Riots and internal conflicts affect the work of these centres, situated a few meters from the criminal. Its director, Enrique Martínez, does not hide the precarities. Does not exceed its capacity, 72, but among the 58 houses there are sanctioned and preventive, in two of three modules built.

One is damaged and u000aIt facilitates the escape. This year three escaped. They have not established education programme for lack of a teacher. It handles with a petty cash that supplies the Attorney-General, with a total of 15,000 pesos. Does not have doctors, nurses or dentists.

In a single truck carried out all the needs of the Centre. Economic kitchens receive raw food and 20 police officers are concerned with security, without adequate preparation. Civilian personnel is also scarce.

INFOTEP teaches hairdresser. The boys also practice basketball, but have no sports instructor. Wednesday morning see educational films. Do a survey to create a club readers on Thursday and Friday in the morning, to use the library.

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