The Role of the Psychologist in the work of Reintegrating Young Offenders in Juvenile Detention Centers

Abstract

Socio-educational centers for total deprivation of liberty serve as facilities intended for the reintegration of young people who have committed offenses in which there was a serious threat or violence. According to article 121 of the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA), deprivation of liberty must respect the principles of brevity, exceptionality and respect for the socio-educator's condition of peculiar development. Psychologists play a crucial role in socio-educational centers for individuals under complete deprivation of liberty, with a focus on mental health support, educational interventions and interdisciplinary collaboration. Your involvement is essential to meeting the complex needs of this vulnerable population, which often includes young people with a history of behavioral problems and mental health disorders. The present study is an integrative review that aims to provide, through exploratory qualitative research, the improvement of knowledge about the psychologist's participation in the reintegration of young offenders into society, with the general objective of understanding the role of the psychologist in the reintegration of young offenders in socio-educational centers; and, as specific objectives, to understand the profile of young people served in socio-educational centers for total deprivation of liberty, to identify the challenges that psychologists face in their work within these centers and to point out directions for the best practices of psychology in this environment. The results demonstrated that the role of psychologists in socio-educational centers with total deprivation of liberty is essential to ensure that the process of social reintegration of young offenders is carried out in an ethical, humanized and effective manner. Therefore, by aligning practices based on active listening, respect for individualities and the promotion of human rights, the psychologist reaffirms his role as an agent of change, contributing to the reduction of recidivism and the reconfiguration of trajectories marked by social exclusion. Work in this context, although challenging, is vital for building a more inclusive society, capable of welcoming and offering second chances to those seeking to rebuild their lives.