Stories from Latin America

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PF Chile’s APAC programme: 10 years of transforming lives and prison units

In late 2009, PF Chile celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its implementation of the APAC methodology. Since its start in the Centro de Detención Preventiva (CDP) de Puente Alto, PF Chile has expanded the programme into 10 prisons, serving 1,955 prisoners – both male and female. This expansion was possible because of the strong support of the Gendarmeria de Chile (the governmental body responsible for prisons in Chile) generated by APAC’s positive outcomes.

PF Brazil’s Valdeci Ferreira helps promote APAC in Portugal

In mid-October, Valdeci Ferreira, executive director of PF Brazil, participated in several events organised by members of PF Portugal. The trip stems from Valdeci’s presentation in a zonal training in 2008 that inspired the local PF Portugal partner in Porto to invite him back. The hope is that more awareness about the APAC methodology is needed to pave the way for an APAC project in Portugal.

First APAC in the Brazilian State of Espírito Santo Inaugurated

In mid-may, PF Brazil launched the first APAC prison in the State of Espírito Santo at a ceremony attended by officials from both the government and the Catholic Church, and the first recuperandos to participate in the programme. The ceremony followed more than a year of preparation that included study visits by state officials to APAC programmes operating in other states and the renovation of the prison located in Cachoeiro do Itapemirim.

Promoting Restorative Justice in Costa Rica

For the year of 2009 PF Costa Rica entered a partnership with the Comisión Nacional para el Mejoramiento de la Administración de Justicia (National Commission for the Improvement for the Administration of Justice) to promote restorative justice at various levels of Costa Rican society. As a part of this effort, the national ministry organized a series of public events related to the topic in Mid-June.

Confronting the Harm in Bolivia

Working with offenders of homicide and manslaughter, PF Bolivia’s second Sycamore Tree Project® course dealt with strong emotions related to grief, guilt and taking responsibility. It also proved to be a journey of changed thinking for many. Early in the course, one facilitator reported her surprise as many of the participants seemed to focus on themselves and their families as the victims although their crimes had a clearly identifiable victim. Yet, the situation changed as the daughter of a murder victim shared her story.

APAC Itauna Hosts the 15th Journey to Freedom in Christ Workshop

From 4-7 December 2008, 90 participants from the three regimes of APAC Itauna participated in the Journey to Freedom in Christ Workshop (called the Jornada). For many, the Jornada -- an intensive retreat including presentations, time for prayer, and various other activities – is considered a highpoint in the APAC methodology.

PF Bolivia Launches the Sycamore Tree Project®

“We are really enjoying Sycamore Tree,” was the opening line of a recent e-mail from Julie Noble, a volunteer with the PF Bolivia chapter in Oruro. Launched on October 4, this first pilot project has enthusiastic support from both the prison administration and the volunteer facilitators. The prisoner participants were recruited from among the parents of the children who attend the ministry’s Angel Tree Centre since there is an existing relationship with them.

APAC Brazil Receives Government Support for Expansion

A few months ago, PF Brazil and the Tribunal of Justice of the State of Minas Gerais signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of nine new APAC Social Reintegration Centres (name given to most APAC facilities) and the expansion of two existing facilities. These 11 new units will add 1,070 spaces to the Brazilian Prison System.

A Life-Saving Prison

Jefferson knows about the lure of crime. Like so many ex-prisoners, he discovered that freedom from confinement does not mean freedom from problems. When he left prison at the age of 32, Jefferson had to find a job despite the stigma of a prison sentence and Brazil’s 9 percent unemployment rate. With 31 percent of Brazilians living below the poverty line, few seem to have sympathy for the prisoner.

Explaining Restorative Justice in Colombia

Dan Van Ness, PFI’s Executive Director of the Centre for Justice and Reconciliation, recently travelled to Colombia to help PF Colombia in its ongoing efforts to promote restorative justice among criminal justice professionals.