Falcon mea culpa; I was not thinking of the US and other overseas countries with very diverse social patterns *, besides that it would not be logistically practical to apply the Oikoten-Camino program there, so please ignore my thread.
However, within a Europe of largely shared social values, the program is definitely worth consideration. An example:
We recently had a national controversy here in Switzerland about an 18 y old fellow who spent 80% of his time since he was 11 years old in juvenile detention. The authorities by despair finally decided to throw money at the problem. So, a team of 6 social workers looked after him 24/7 in a luxury apartment, with monthly cost of $ 32'000 (!) What they called "special setting" included daily training in a Thai Boxing Club.
Can't help thinking that an Oikoten program costing a fraction would have helped this guy more.
According to official national statistics, about $ 250'000 of taxpayer money is spent per year on every juvenile (mostly petty-) delinquent in detention, in my country Switzerland. I am not saying that the Oikoten program is a solution for all and everything but if it helps only in 5% of all cases, it is well worthwhile. And yes, I still believe that teenagers can be influenced positively and that locking them up is not a solution.
Littering? Ah yes, we adults give a fine example already, do we not?
(*) PS: Please do not read in the above any «European presumption» or «cultural arrogance»; what I meant is that there are differences, that’s all. We all have our own problems and solutions.
PPS: Just discovered this very befitting article, worthwhile to read!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/apr/14/prisons-and-probation-youthjustice
