California's model rehab centre

BBC News, California


It has been called the most successful rehabilitation programme in the world.
The Delancey Street Foundation in San Francisco puts hardened criminals - including thieves and murderers - in charge of their own recovery and it doesn't take a penny in grant money from the United States government.
Instead the residents support themselves - and each other - by running a string of businesses including a gourmet restaurant. It is a 500-strong family, and - much like a normal family - the punishment for those who step out of line is washing the dishes.

Nestling in the shadow of San Francisco's Bay Bridge the Delancey Street Foundation looks more like an upscale Mediterranean resort than a commune for ex-cons. Inside the place is immaculate.
The first stop on our tour: a gourmet waterfront restaurant run by the residents and open to the public for lunch and dinner.
The place serves around 500 people a day, most of whom have no idea the man or woman serving them is a former car thief or a cat burglar.

It takes four years to graduate from the Delancey Street foundation

Living together
As we moved on to tour the coffee shop, car service and bookstore James told me residents live and work together, pool their income and take responsibility for each other's welfare.
Funding for Delancey Street comes from profits generated by the businesses and donations. There is no cost to the residents, the community or the government.
In the canteen and the common room gang members rubbed shoulders with hit men, Mafiosi chewed the cud with con men, and white-collar criminals shot the breeze with white supremacists.
There was no hint of tension; the residents all seemed far too busy for that, either acquiring an education or learning new job skills.
Then it was back to the restaurant for high tea with Mimi Silbert (criminal psychologist), the founder of Delancey Street, and the only person in the place who is not a former criminal.
Glowing with pride
She founded Delancey Street in 1971 with four residents and $1000 (£507) loan and has since turned a decrepit warehouse into a lavish residential and retail centre, a place which has seen more than 14,000 multiple offenders transformed into law-abiding citizens.

Mimi Silbert founded Delancey Street in 1971

Mimi says Delancey Street does not accept former sex offenders or psychiatric patients, simply because they require special care. With such care she believed the concept could work for them too.

My Note: This is an edited version of a report on BBC. This is an excellent project and I encourage you to use this as a tool to change the thinking on rehabilitation. It needs to be a lot less punitive.