CRIS (Criminals Return Into Society)

A presentation on…

• Who we are

• What C.R.I.S. is

• What C.R.I.S. does

• Why C.R.I.S. is here today

Swedish treatment of offenders

– how many relapse into crime?

• Sweden has 9 million inhabitants

• There are 4000 prisoners in Swedish prisons

• There are 55 prisons in Sweden

• 25 of these offer some form of treatment

• 60 % of prisoners are addicted to drugs

• 40 % of all prisoners fall into relapse

• Prisons offer many different types of treatment

• Most use the 12-step method

• There is no HIV epidemic

• In 2002 there were 52 HIV

positive prisoners in Swedish jails

Who is Christer & Peter ?

•

A life of criminality and drugs

• The turning point

• An idea began to take shape - why not help myself

by helping others

• A society for former criminals who have decided to break

with their old way of life

• Several have similar thoughts

How should it be organised?

• Free from party politics and religion, but in collaboration

with public authorities

• On the right side of the law thanks to honest,

drug-free friends

• We have experience and therefore know how to help others

•Our 4 keywords are:

- Honesty

- Freedom of drugs

- Comradeship

- Solidarity

What is C.R.I.S.?

• C.R.I.S. Is a complement to the treatments offered in prisons

• It is good that there is treatment available in prisons

• I´ts very important to have resources after releases

• We help those who want help

• Work in stages with the problems of:

- Drug dependence

- Criminality

•Follow them until it is time for them to live life on their own

and help them face the problems that may arise

What does C.R.I.S. do today?

• We visit prisons several times each day

• Collecting prisoners when they are released

• The meeting place - many social activities

• Halfway house

• Establish relations with public authorities

• Activities involving Mum, Dad and children

• Youth project

• NA Narcotics Anonymous

• CGA – Criminal and

Gangs Anonymous

What does C.R.I.S. amount

to today?

• 4000 members, including the Swedish King and Queen

• 30 local societies

• CRIS in Denmark , Finland and Lithuania

• Foreign interested parties, collaborating partners & joint activities

• Great interest from countries such as Ireland, South Africa,

England, Norway and others

What have C.R.I.S. achieved?

We've helped 1000 people going back to the society…..

What kind of international

recognition has C.R.I.S. recieved?

• In 1999 C.R.I.S. was awarded the: International Society

of Crime Prevention Practitioners Award in the USA

• In 1998 C.R.I.S. took second place in European Crime

Prevention Award in London

Why is C.R.I.S. in Lithuania?

• To visit prisons and inform inmates about our activities

• Wants to start a network to establish C.R.I.S. in Lithuania

• Seeks sponsors and collaborating partners - business,

public authorities and former criminals .

Christer Karlsson

President of CRIS