The Fresh Start project, which took place over four weeks between April and November 2024, involved professionals from four countries—Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Portugal—who are active in the fields of addiction treatment, prison services, and social reintegration. This initiative aimed to explore innovative practices in supporting individuals struggling with addiction who are involved in the justice system, with the ultimate goal of facilitating their social reintegration.
1. Project Timeline
The Fresh Start project was carried out through a series of visits to four countries—Spain, Italy, Belgium, and Portugal—between April and November 2024. Each visit lasted approximately one week and provided the participants with opportunities to observe and learn from various institutions and organizations involved in addiction treatment and social reintegration.
2. Project Participants
Participants included three professionals from each of the four countries involved in the Fresh Start project. These professionals work in fields related to addiction treatment, prison services, and reintegration programs. Their collective expertise was crucial in identifying and analyzing effective strategies across the four countries.
3. Locations Visited
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Spain (April 2024): The visit to Spain focused on the penitentiary center in León. Participants were given the opportunity to study how the prison system manages individuals with addiction problems, with a focus on rehabilitation and preparation for reintegration into society after release.
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Italy (June 2024): In Italy, the group visited several services in the Emilia-Romagna region. The focus was on understanding the wide range of social and health services provided to those with addiction issues, particularly in how these services intersect with the justice system.
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Belgium (September 2024): The visit to Belgium covered two prisons located in Flanders, a specialized court dealing with drug offenders, and several support facilities, including a day therapeutic community in Namur and a night shelter for individuals struggling with addiction in Brussels. This visit highlighted Belgium’s comprehensive approach to managing addiction in the criminal justice system.
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Portugal (November 2024): The final trip, scheduled for November, will involve a visit to various institutions in Portugal, where participants will study innovative approaches in social reintegration for individuals with addiction problems who have been involved in the justice system.
4. Project Objectives
The primary goal of the Fresh Start project is to discover and analyze innovative practices that assist individuals struggling with addiction, particularly those involved in the justice system, in their social reintegration. By learning from various European countries, the participants aimed to gather valuable insights and strategies that could be applied in their own national contexts to improve the outcomes of such programs.
5. Outcomes and Next Steps
The professionals involved in the Fresh Start project will now focus on implementing some of the best practices they observed during their visits. The final report, to be published after the conclusion of the project, will include a detailed compilation of these innovative practices and recommendations for how they can be adapted and applied across the four countries. The ultimate goal is to promote better integration of addiction treatment with judicial processes and to enhance the social reintegration of individuals affected by addiction.
The Fresh Start project serves as a valuable step towards fostering international collaboration in addressing the challenges posed by addiction in the justice system, offering fresh perspectives and practical solutions for improving social reintegration programs.