ORGANISATION OF EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES OECS Social Protection Technical Committee Meeting 23 MARCH 2015 Sandals Regency, La Toc St. Lucia

OECS Commission and USAID have identified children and youth as a priority group deserving of support with specific focus on reform initiatives designed to strengthen the juvenile justice system.

Project Location: The six (6) independent states of the OECS:- Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia & St. Vincent

Project Duration: The project came into effect October 2011 – September 2014; received an extension to October 31, 2015.

Overall Budget:  USAID - US$5.2 Million  OECS Member States US$1,345,600  OECS Secretariat – US$260,200

Strategic Objective: T o reform and improve the Juvenile Justice Sector.

Outcomes Contributing to Strategic Objective 1.Harmonized Legal and Regulatory frameworks for the Juvenile Justice Sector 2. Improved and modernized administrative systems and procedures for National Sectors

Outcomes Contributing to Strategic Objective 3.Modernized diversion, detention and rehabilitative programmes and processes 4. Improved civil society linkages and other supporting structures to strengthen the juvenile Justice system

Strategic Focus  Establishing a foundation for juvenile justice sector reform through the following regional frameworks - Legal Framework - Strategic Directions Beyond Training towards Modernisation of Administrative Services - Standardised approach to Diversion - Standardised Approach to Monitoring/Evaluation - Parenting and Non Traditional Forms of Diversion  Introduction, adoption and implementation of Juvenile Legislation

Strategic Focus con’t  Introduction of centralised information management systems  Strengthening detention programming through the introduction of Cognitive approaches  Refining and meeting the needs of juveniles through risk assessment, needs assessments and mental health screening  Strengthening through direct investment, existing and newly developed diversion and detention programmes

Major Outcomes – Component 1 The Legal and Regulatory Framework Harmonisation of juvenile legislation About to assist Dominica, and St. Lucia with the adoption and final assent of the model OECS Juvenile Justice Bill

Major Outcomes – Component 1 The Legal and Regulatory Framework Developed National Juvenile Sector Strategies Developed Regional Juvenile Justice Sector Strategy

Major Outcomes – Component 2 Capacity Building for Effective Administration Developed a Juvenile Facility Operations and Quality Assurance Manual Dominica developed a manual Standard Operational Procedures of Best Practices for Dealing with Juveniles

Major Outcomes – Component 2 Capacity Building for Effective Administration Developed a Sector Training Plan and to deliver training to the social services sector, institutions and the Magistracy Conducted training in the use of empirical evidence for the development of Social Policy – one in each Member State

Major Outcomes – Component 2 Capacity Building for Effective Administration Grenada undertook specialised training exploring the link between brain development and the propensity for juvenile crime St. Kitts and Nevis provided training for security personnel at New Horizons Juvenile Facility and strengthened their diversion response at the Step Up Programme

Major Outcomes – Component 2 Capacity Building for Effective Administration St. Vincent engaged a consultant to develop a model Court Diversion Programme and undertook a National Training Conference for the social and legal sectors St. Lucia to Undertake training in the Management of Trauma and its impact on Children

Major Outcomes – Component 3 Modernisation of Diversion, Detention and Rehabilitative Processes A Small Grants Facility gave each Member State access to approximately US$70,000

Major Outcomes – Component 3 Modernisation of Diversion, Detention and Rehabilitative Processes  Contracted a consulting firm to develop a coordinated framework to modernise Member State’s Diversion and Alternative Sentencing Interventions  Use of the Functional Family Therapy approach to develop a harmonised parenting framework

Major Outcomes – Component 4 Improved Linkages with Civil Society and Other supporting Structures  Worked with the media as a strategic Partner to train media personnel and developed a standard for reporting on children and young persons  Utilised a consultant for branding of the project and to produce PSAs for both radio and TV as well as produce print material e.g. posters and information pamphlets

Initiatives to be completed  Training in the application of Aggression Replacement Therapy (ART) / Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)  Undertake a Consultancy to develop and Pilot a Risk Assessment Framework in St. Vincent  Expansion of the Hydroponics Model in Antigua, Grenada St. Lucia and St. Vincent

Initiatives to be completed  Conference of Judges and Magistrates  Undertake the assessment of existing Court Diversion Programmes and alternative sentencing initiatives  Implementation of Case Management Software  Pre-sentencing Divergence Conference

The Council of Ministers for Human and Social Development is invited to:- 1.Consider and support the adoption and ascent of the Juvenile Justice Bill 2.Consider and adopt the Regional Juvenile Justice Sector Strategy 3.Consider and adopt Standard Diversion Model Programmes

We Killing Dreams and Creating Criminals

Legislation and Policy To drive changes in the system for use of Expanded Diversion Services  Presentence diversion  Reduced use of detention  Increased numbers diverted from court involvement  Child rights based – use of CRC and other conventions

Legislation and Policy To drive changes in the system for use of Behavioural and Health Services  Use of Risk Assessments  Mental Health Screening  Trauma screening  Development of Educational disability and other disability screening  Reintegration programmes

Regional Juvenile Justice Strategy Vision : POLICIES that promote successful outcomes for young people SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY that is coordinated with appropriate interventions for both the juvenile and society SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS engaging all core agencies whether social, juvenile justice, courts from the point of entry into the system PEOPLE a sector that addresses the needs of all people – juveniles, families and communities

The future is brighter with REFORM

The future

Thank You!!!