Juvenile reform has proven to be too expensive and ineffective, according to an audit done by the Supreme Chamber of Control (NIK), that shows that the state spends 18,000 zloty (4,320 euro) monthly per juvenile offender.
Statistics show that social rehabilitation in Poland has a success rate of forty percent, meaning that 60 percent of those minors who complete a state-run reform program commit another crime.
According to NIK, the fault lies in a lack of comprehensive services in the social reform system, overcrowded facilities and the fact that social workers are unable to complete their tasks.
The audit reveals that directors at reform facilities have a tendency to falsify financial documents. NIK auditors discovered evidence of self-granted bonuses and additional paid holiday leave and have submitted the report to the Justice Ministry.
The audit covered 23 rehabilitation locations including eleven juvenile reform centres, seven youth shelters and five rehabilitation centres in 10 regions of Poland that make up 66 percent of the system and covered a two-year time span from 2007 until the first quarter of 2009. Six hundred twenty three youth were polled. In total, Poland has about 1,900 minors in the institutionalized reform system and the government spent about 90.2 million zloty (21.3 million euro) in 2007 and 101 million zloty (23.8 million euro) in 2008 on reform services. (mmj)