About the probation as a protective measure toward juvenile —the validity for the volunteer-probation-officers system in Japan
Date Issued
2016
Date
2016
Author(s)
KOSAKA JURI
Abstract
The crime rate of juvenile in Japan is declining. The number of arrested juvenile delinquents has been declining since 2004, while the number of juvenile delinquents has also been declining for the recent 5 years. Whenever a cruel murder committed by youths occurs, the general republic tends to progress towards more punitive juvenile justice system. However, it should be noted that these are extraordinary cases. Most of the juvenile delinquent cases are caused by their family, social environments, unstable mental state or lake of adequate education. That’s why the Juvenile Act aims at the protection of minor by providing a wholesome environment for the raising of youths and their rehabilitation.When youths who commit crimes were sentenced to correctional measures by juvenile courts, probation is most assigned to the young delinquents. In Japan, the volunteer-probation-officers system supports juvenile probation fundamentally. The juvenile delinquents have to go through the probation and are supervised by the probation officers or the volunteer-probation-officers. Researches on the volunteer-probation-officers system can definitely create a more appropriate way for juvenile’s correction and rehabilitation.The volunteer-probation-officers system is originated in Japan. It’s a supporting system, which aims to keep offenders out of trouble and prevent recidivism. One purpose of this thesis is to investigate the particularity of the unique system, which the volunteers work with the probation officers in penal system.This system itself is confronted with difficulties, nevertheless. The difficulties include that the juvenile delinquents carrying more complicated problems than ever, the linkage among family members or community members is getting loose. This makes the volunteer-probation-officers’ task tough. Furthermore, the background can only add difficulty recruiting new members into the system.As to Taiwan’s situation, there is no such volunteer-probation-officer system. However, Japan and Taiwan do share similar social and juristic systems. A comparative study on the juvenile probation system can be inspiring to the two countries for solution to their respective difficulties .The conclusion provides several suggestions. First of all is to assure more probation officers, and recruit young generation into the volunteer-probation-officers system. Besides, “parental education”, a correctional measure practiced in Taiwan, can be an appropriate design for Japan. At the end of the thesis, the merit and demerit of the system is referred.
Subjects
the volunteer-probation-officer
probation-officer
probation
community treatment,
a correctional measure toward juvenile
SDGs
Type
thesis