Brazil divided by debate over teenage crime and punishment

 

 
"The Rev Renato Chiera, an Italian priest, founded Casa do Menor in Nova Iguacu, near Rio de Janeiro, in 1986 to shelter local homeless children threatened by vigilantes. Adolescents such as Pablo need psychological and spiritual treatment, Cheira said, not jail. “The narco-traffic has become the refuge for these kids,” he said.

But rehabilitating teenage drug users is a long, difficult process. In April, the centre’s other five residents escaped to buy crack, cocaine and marijuana. They assaulted a bus using weapons they had fashioned out of metal and wire. Afterward, they sought out one of the centre’s workers, frightened of the consequences of what they had done. Four are back with their families. The fifth was killed by a dealer."

read the newstory by Dom Philips
Brazil divided by debate over teenage crime and punishment - The Washington Post