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Twenty percent of the Georgian population, in total approximately 4.3 million people, is below 14 years of age.   The often tumultuous political and socio-economic developments in the country have, without doubt, led to numerous improvements but have also had some negative consequences. The flipside of this progress however affects the lives of many young people and negatively influences the mental wellbeing of this generation, which forms future social capital of the nation. For now, the country shows a high degree of poverty and unequal division of wealth which – taking into account that mental problems have a higher prevalence among the poor – does harm to children growing up in poor families. The high unemployment rate of 20% among youngsters in the age of 15 to 24 years not only deprives many of an outlook to a meaningful existence but at the same time nourishes the growth of drug abuse and delinquency.

The aim of the project is to contribute to the successful implementation of humane juvenile justice reform in Georgia by promoting the alternative schemes and sanctions for successful socialisation and integration of juveniles in conflict with law and supporting the development of a continuum of inclusive services that meets the needs of juveniles and their families.

• Maintaining and expanding the an inter-agency steering committee to elaborate a balanced approach to juveniles in conflict with law, sharing and debating the methods and schemes of alternative sanctions and diversions; to reach for appropriate models that promote inclusiveness and socialization rather then criminalization and exclusion of these juveniles;            
• Introducing modern practices to Samtredia N15 School-pansionate, through trainings of staff, provision of screening instruments, introduction of needs based psychosocial programs; upgrading institution's functionality; pioneering a social competence model that includes (a) a developmental, ecological, and skill-based approach to working with the juvenile offender and (b) an emphasis on the identification of skill deficits associated with delinquency and on the effective matching of programs to remedy these needs.
• Establishing the regulations, clear referral pathways, guidelines and other systemic instruments to modify the life and ethics of the institution by institutionalization of the agreed rules and instructions; elaborate the model for alternative sanctions for JD.

Samtredia School - Pansionate was established in 1960 and since 1966 was used a special school for "young criminals" by the Ministry of Interior of USSR. Since 90's the facility underwent several changes though always remained the special institution for young males who are in conflict with law.   At present there are app. 20 juveniles, though the school could host up to 35 j). The Public Monitoring Council monitored the facility in 2008 and identified the general humane atmosphere, positive relationships between the administration and inmates and caring attitudes towards the children and also their family members. Yet the institution needs the substantial upgrading, both in terms of conditions (e.g. a school is so dilapidated that children could not attend the lessons there) and programs (no special programs for addressing delinquency).

For more information about European Commission projects see:
ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm

The information given above is the sole responsibility of Global Initiative on Psychiatry and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.