The Diagrama Foundation is a non-profit organisation that has transformed Spain’s youth detention system through its rehabilitation-first approach. Since 1991, it has focused on education, vocational training, and social reintegration, reducing recidivism and improving outcomes for young offenders.
The Diagrama Foundation is a non-profit organisation that has transformed Spain’s youth detention system through its rehabilitation-first approach. Since 1991, it has focused on education, vocational training, and social reintegration, reducing recidivism and improving outcomes for young offenders.
Diagrama’s approach has influenced youth justice discussions beyond Spain, with calls for similar models in the UK and other countries. The foundation also collaborates internationally, leading projects like REVIJ, which promotes restorative justice across Europe.
The Diagrama Foundation is a non-profit organization that has been working with young offenders in Spain since 1991 1. Over the past three decades, they have developed a unique approach to juvenile justice that prioritizes rehabilitation and reintegration over punishment 2. This report will provide a comprehensive overview of the Diagrama Foundation's history, outcomes, practices, and systems change efforts within Spain's youth detention system.
Founded in 1991, the Diagrama Foundation ("Fundación Diagrama Intervención Psicosocial") is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting individuals in vulnerable situations and at risk of social exclusion. With a strong commitment to upholding and promoting human rights, their primary objective is to promote and develop centers, services, programs, and research aimed at the prevention, treatment, and integration of people facing challenging life circumstances, particularly children, young people, families, women, and dependents 3. Diagrama employs over 5,000 professionals in Spain, who, along with volunteers and collaborators, make up a team of close to 5,400 people dedicated to providing this service to society 3. Their vision is to be a benchmark for quality, commitment, good practice, and efficiency in the comprehensive care of vulnerable people, working towards their full social integration. To achieve this, the foundation has developed a specialized intervention model centered on the well-being of individuals and society, as well as the continuous improvement of its processes and resources.
The Diagrama Foundation's work aligns with the principles of restorative justice and youth rehabilitation. Their commitment to providing comprehensive support for vulnerable young people, including those in contact with the law, suggests a significant role in shaping Spain's approach to youth justice. This includes managing resources that promote the learning of knowledge, skills, values, and social norms, helping young people develop the framework for an autonomous and responsible life 4.
The Diagrama Foundation has achieved remarkable outcomes in its work with young offenders in Spain. One notable achievement is their significantly lower recidivism rate compared to typical youth detention centers. A 2019 study found that only 13.6% of youth released from Diagrama centers in the Murcia region returned to custody over a 6-year period 1. This success can be attributed to their focus on rehabilitation and reintegration, which includes providing education, vocational training, and support for social and emotional development. This approach has been shown to improve the well-being of young people in their care 1. By creating a supportive and encouraging environment, they help young people develop a sense of self-worth and belonging, leading to positive behavioral changes and a reduction in re-offending.
Furthermore, Diagrama's approach has been shown to be cost-effective. They employ far fewer staff than are usually required in juvenile detention centers, which typically represent the greatest cost in this sector 2.
These positive outcomes have garnered international attention. In 2023, Lord Bird MBE, a member of the UK House of Lords and advocate for social justice, visited Diagrama's facilities in Spain. He was impressed by their approach and the positive results they have achieved, noting the stark contrast between Diagrama's 80% non-re-offending rate and the UK's 30% rate 5.
This success can be attributed, in part, to the foundation's dedication to providing a supportive and educational environment rather than relying on traditional security measures. As David McGuire, Chief Executive of the Diagrama Foundation, stated, "We know that juveniles serving custodial sentences need role models, education on the difference between right and wrong, and hope for the future, not security guards and cells" 5.
To achieve these positive outcomes, the Diagrama Foundation employs a variety of practices and interventions in its work with young offenders. These are summarized in the table below and elaborated upon further:
Diagrama's re-education centers prioritize education and skill-building to equip young people for a successful future. They recognize that each young person is an individual and provide personalized support to address their specific needs and challenges, including those related to education, family, health, and mental well-being.
The foundation's non-punitive ethos is crucial to their success. They believe in setting clear boundaries and expectations while providing genuine warmth, care, and encouragement 2. This approach fosters a sense of trust and respect, allowing young people to feel safe and supported as they work towards rehabilitation.
Furthermore, Diagrama recognizes the importance of family and community in the rehabilitation process. They actively encourage and support contact and connection with family members, providing dedicated support to families as well 2. This helps young people maintain vital support networks and facilitates their reintegration into the community upon release.
The Diagrama Foundation has been a driving force for systems change within Spain's youth detention system. Their innovative approach has challenged traditional punitive models and promoted a more rehabilitative and restorative approach to youth justice. By demonstrating the effectiveness of their model, they have influenced policy and practice across Spain.
One of the key systems change efforts undertaken by Diagrama is the regionalization of facilities. This allows young people to be placed within their own area, maintaining connections with their support networks and facilitating their reintegration into the community 6. They also advocate for a more flexible system of sentencing and case management, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach is not effective in addressing the diverse needs of young offenders 6.
To effectively implement Diagrama's methodology in other countries, a cultural shift in the perception of children who offend is necessary 6. This includes moving away from a purely punitive approach and embracing the importance of rehabilitation and education. It also requires a shift from corporate to not-for-profit providers, removing profit from the equation and prioritizing the quality of care and support provided to young people 6.
Lord Bird's visit to Diagrama's facilities in Spain highlights the growing recognition of the foundation's success in transforming youth justice. His advocacy for adopting similar models in other countries underscores the potential for Diagrama's approach to inspire change on a global scale 5.
The Diagrama Foundation actively engages in international collaboration and research to further its mission and contribute to the broader field of youth justice. One notable example is their involvement in the REVIJ project (Reparation to the victims in the European Juvenile Justice Systems) 7. This project, led by Fundación Diagrama, involves collaboration with various European organizations to analyze and promote restorative justice practices, including victim reparation, within youth justice systems across Europe.
The Diagrama Foundation has made significant contributions to Spain's youth detention system. Their focus on rehabilitation, reintegration, and individualized support has led to positive outcomes for young offenders, including lower recidivism rates and improved well-being. Their innovative practices and systems change efforts have transformed the landscape of youth justice in Spain, offering a promising model for other countries to emulate.
The foundation's success highlights the importance of moving away from punitive approaches to youth justice and embracing a more holistic, rehabilitative model. By prioritizing education, personal development, and community reintegration, Diagrama has demonstrated that it is possible to break the cycle of re-offending and help young people build a better future.
The Diagrama model has the potential to be adapted and implemented in other countries facing challenges in their youth justice systems. However, successful implementation requires a commitment to cultural change, a focus on non-punitive practices, and a willingness to invest in the well-being and future of young people. Further research and evaluation of Diagrama's model can provide valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to improve youth justice outcomes globally.
While this report draws on extensive research, specific reports from 8 did not yield directly relevant information on the Diagrama Foundation or its work within the Spanish youth detention system.
1. From Punishment to Potential: Lessons from Spain's Innovative ..., accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.justiceco-lab.com/article/from-punishment-to-potential-lessons-from-spains-innovative-youth-justice-model---day-1-with-diagrama
2. A European alternative approach to juvenile detention | RMIT Centre ..., accessed February 16, 2025, https://cij.org.au/news-and-views/a-european-alternative-approach-to-juvenile-detention/
3. About Us | Fundación Diagrama, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.fundaciondiagrama.es/en/who-we-are/about-us
4. Fundación Diagrama: Home, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.fundaciondiagrama.es/en
5. Lord Bird MBE becomes patron for care provider Diagrama Foundation - InYourArea, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/lord-bird-mbe-to-become-patron-for-care-provider-diagrama-foundation-2
6. Tackling youth offending in Spain - CYP Now, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.cypnow.co.uk/content/best-practice/tackling-youth-offending-in-spain/
7. REVIJ - Diagrama Foundation, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.diagramafoundation.org.uk/sites/default/files/revij_final_report.pdf
8. International Juvenile Justice Observatory, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.oijj.org/en
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