YJ:Your Justice

Jesús Teruel

Coordinator

Work Area

Centro Educativo Juvenil 'Las Moreras

Role

Diagrama Staff

Location

Murcia

About

Jesús Teruel, Coordinator of Territorial Directors at Diagrama Foundation youth detention centres in Murcia, Spain, emphasizes treating young people with respect and providing support to break the cycle of repression. The centres focus on growth and rehabilitation, witnessing significant positive changes among the youth. The low recidivism rates reflect the success of the reform program in preventing reoffending and incarceration. Teruel advocates for supporting young people to effect change through intervention and guidance.

Quotes

"Our centres are not just places of confinement; they are spaces for growth."

"Experience demonstrates that with the right support, young people can transform their lives, and our recidivism rates, as low as 20-25%, stand in stark contrast to what I've heard about Australia."

"I firmly believe that by intervening with adolescents and young people, we can effect change. People do not transform through divine intervention; they change when they are supported, their progress is reinforced, and their personal growth is valued."

Diagrama Focus

Jesús Teruel discusses how the Diagrama model places a strong emphasis on restorative justice and rehabilitation. He highlights how the program tailors interventions to the specific needs of each young person, ensuring that both personal growth and social reintegration are prioritized. A key aspect of the model, as noted, is the commitment to relationship-building between staff and young people, which fosters trust, responsibility, and long-term behavioral change. He also emphasizes that Diagrama’s lower recidivism rates demonstrate the power of a well-structured, rehabilitative approach to youth justice.

Key points

A central focus is placed on treating detainees with respect and empathy, ensuring they understand the consequences of their actions while providing them with education and support.

Jesús highlights the potential for transformation in young people, emphasizing the belief that with the right resources, they can break out of the cycle of delinquency.

He underscores the success of intervention programs, pointing to Diagrama's low recidivism rates as proof of their effectiveness.

The discussion stresses the importance of structured, continuous support, noting that a lack of stability is often a root cause of prior issues faced by these young people.