105 Oxford Road Saxonwold Johannesburg South Africa 2196

ARTICLE

JOHANNESBURG JUVENILE MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON DRUG PEER COUNSELLING PROGRAMME

Introduction

In April 2002, in Johannesburg Juvenile Maximum Security Prison, Khulisa implemented its Offender Drug Peer Counselling Programme.  Funded by the American Embassy, a range of training components were undertaken between April and December 2002 when 18 youth inmates graduated as Drug Peer Counsellors. In February 2003, these drug peer educators were transferred into five different sections of Johannesburg Prison to introduce and establish a drug awareness and rehabilitation programme. By August 2003, the drug peer educators were working in seven sections of Medium C, running drug awareness programmes and undertaking counselling. By February 2004, 12 peer educators remained in the group as three had ‘dropped out’, and three had been transferred to other prisons.

The aim of the Khulisa Offender Drug Peer Counselling Programme is to ultimately create facilities in prison, which, over time, will lead towards drug free sections.

The programme has two main objectives:

  1. The ongoing skills development of peer counsellors, in particular focusing on increasing the peer counsellors awareness and counselling skills;
  2. Provide activities for the provision of skills that will be transferable within any context for the duration of the prisoner’s life, with a particular emphasis on running support groups and rehabilitation activities. 

Key achievements, between March and October 2003, of the programme include the following:

  • Over 900 school learners, children and youth were reached, while visiting the prison, through the drug awareness presentations and activities offered by the drug peer counsellors;
  • Over 40 support groups were established and 260 sessions held with inmates in seven sections in the Medium C section of the prison;
  • 471 young inmates participated in the support groups and sessions held during this timeframe;
  • 160 inmates were involved in activities facilitated by the drug peer counsellors on 12 June 2003 when Princess Ann visited the prison (activities included a restorative justice workshop, drumming and indigenous games).

Evaluator comments

It is the view of the evaluator that the programme has successfully met its stated objectives, and is making a significant contribution to understanding, developing, and in some cells sustaining, drug free sections. Furthermore, the Drug Peer Counselling Programme is meeting a need of juvenile inmates to change drug related behaviour and to live more positively. The group of drug peer counsellors is beginning to shift behaviour through demonstrating that it is possible to change and live positively, to live with hope, in prison. A number of factors have contributed to the successful implementation of the programme, and these were highlighted above. 

Finally, the drug peer counselling programme is restoring the dignity of those most negatively affected by drug abuse and is facilitating the building of juvenile inmates into resources able to participate in social and cultural communities in the prison, and in the longer-term possibly out of prison.

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