The Judicial Drug Treatment Monitoring Program being implemented by the municipal government in Bogotá, Colombia, uses a restorative approach to justice by attending to victims, providing evidence-based medical treatment to participants, and encouraging reparations for damages caused. A delegation from the U.S. government supporting this initiative included Todd D. Robinson, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and Peter Natiello, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. In August 2022 they participated in a hearing of the Judicial Follow-up Program for Drug Treatment to observe the program’s outcomes.
The Directorate of Juvenile Criminal Responsibility staff, led by IIRP trainer, Iván Torres, and current IIRP student, Daniel Rios, prepared for the delegation’s visit, during which they conducted a joint work session with 120 judges, prosecutors, family defenders, and public defenders who work in adolescent justice. They trained participants in the communication and pedagogical skills staff need to conduct successful follow-up hearings. “These hearings allow judicial and administrative authorities to observe the services we provide to victims and performance of the adolescents in treatment programs. They also get to see the achievements of the restorative process, including the work with families and the productive and social inclusion of the teenaged participants,” explains Daniel. His work will continue to transform the lives of youth in Colombia through restorative practices.
