Rebuilding the future for Haiti's minors and women offenders at risk of reoffending

Through this project the organization “Terre des Hommes Italie” (TDH-IT) supports efforts to reduce the risk of juvenile delinquency increase access to justice for women and youth detainees and support their reintegration into society. Project activities include: (1) providing legal assistance to women and youth detainees in pre-trial detention; (2) assisting Haiti’s Prison Administrative Directorate (DAP) an arm of the Haitian National Police (HNP) implementing activities that support the reintegration of detained women and youth. This includes professional and literacy training and psychosocial support; (3) providing training internship opportunities and psychosocial support for marginalized young women and men from underprivileged communities in Port-au-Prince; (4) locating the families of released inmates (women and youth) and sensitizing their families and communities to reduce stigma and promote supportive environments that foster successful reintegration; and (5) supporting Haitian authorities in developing guidelines and standard operating procedures for their Specialized Foster Home program for released young offenders and at-risk youth.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved detention conditions and access to reintegration services for minor and women detainees at Cermicol and Les Cayes jails; (2) increased access to legal assistance for minor and women offenders in pre-trial detention at Cermicol and Les Cayes jails; (3) increased capacities of justice sector actors to process cases involving youth in conflict with the law; and (4) increased skills and access to legitimate jobs by marginalized youth and women from impoverished communities in Port-au-Prince. The overall expected result of this project is to improve the reintegration processes for women and young offenders.