1 Juvenile probationers/juvenile training school parolees

(1) Number of juveniles newly placed under probation/parole supervision, etc.
  Fig. 4-2-6-1 shows the number of juvenile probationers and juvenile training school parolees newly placed under probation/parole supervision since 1949.

Fig. 4-2-6-1  Number of juvenile probationers and juvenile training school parolees newly placed under probation/parole supervision (1949–2007)

  The number of juvenile probationers and parolees newly placed under probation/parole supervision recorded the highest number of 78,112 in 1990, but decreased from 1991 to 1995. Then, it increased slightly from 1996 to 1999, but again it has been on a downward trend since 2000 (see Appendix 2-12).
  The breakdown of the number of juvenile probationers and parolees newly placed under probation/parole supervision in 2007 was that 30,554 (down by 3,022 (9.0%) from the previous year) were juvenile probationers and 4,344 (down by 367 (7.8%) (id.)) were juvenile training school parolees.
  There are short-term probation for non-traffic offenses and short-term probation for traffic offenses determined by recommendation concerning treatment by a family court.

a. Short-term probation for non-traffic offenses
  Short-term probation for non-traffic offenses is for a juvenile who is placed under probation by a family court order for any offense other than traffic-related ones (dangerous driving causing death or injury, negligence in vehicle driving, etc., violations of four statute traffic related acts, and Road Trucking Act violations; hereinafter the same in this section) as long as the juvenile has not developed strong delinquent tendencies and is expected to improve and rehabilitate him/herself during the short-term period. This has been conducted since 1994.
  Short-term probation for non-traffic offenses lasts for a short period of six or seven months in principle, during which treatment is conducted by giving guidance on particularly important fields for a juvenile's rehabilitation, such as on his/her lifestyle, school life, employment, family relationships or friend relationships. Some assignments are given for him/her to perform, designed to help him/her solve their problems in such fields.

b. Short-term probation for traffic offenses
  Short-term probation for traffic offenses is for a juvenile who is placed under probation by a family court order for traffic-related offenses as long as the juvenile does not have general delinquent tendencies or has not developed strong delinquent tendencies and his/her traffic-related delinquent tendencies are not fixed. This has been conducted since 1977.
  Short-term probation for traffic offenses lasts for a short period of three or four months in principle. Instead of ordinary treatment, group treatment concerning safe driving is conducted.

(2) Characteristics of juvenile probationers/juvenile training school parolees
a. Age
  Fig. 4-2-6-2 shows the age distribution of juvenile probationers/juvenile training school parolees newly placed under probation/parole supervision (excluding juveniles under short-term probation for traffic offenses; hereinafter the same in this Section) in 2007.

Fig. 4-2-6-2  Age distribution of juvenile probationers/juvenile training school parolees newly placed under probation/parole supervision (2007)

  Compared to juvenile training school parolees, the percentage of younger juvenile probationers is high.

b. Type of delinquency
  Fig. 4-2-6-3 shows the percent distribution of juvenile probationers/juvenile training school parolees newly placed under probation/parole supervision in 2007, by sex and by type of delinquency.

Fig. 4-2-6-3  Percent distribution of juvenile probationers/juvenile training school parolees newly placed under probation/parole supervision, by sex and by type of delinquency (2007)

c. History of protective measures
  Fig. 4-2-6-4 shows the percent distribution of juvenile probationers/juvenile training school parolees newly placed under probation/parole supervision in 2007, by history of protective measures.

Fig. 4-2-6-4  Percent distribution of juvenile probationers/juvenile training school parolees newly placed under probation/parole supervision by history of protective measures (2007)

d. Status of education or employment
  Fig. 4-2-6-5 shows the percent distribution of juvenile probationers/juvenile training school parolees newly placed under and discharged from probation/parole supervision (excluding those under short-term probation for traffic offenses; hereinafter the same in this section) in 2007, by status of education or employment.

Fig. 4-2-6-5  Percent distribution of juvenile probationers/juvenile training school parolees newly placed under and discharged from probation/parole supervision by status of education/employment (2007)

  Although it is difficult to make a strict comparison of the employment status for each year on juvenile probationers/ juvenile training school parolees newly placed and discharged from probation/parole supervision as the subject juveniles are not the same, comparing the time when they are placed under probation/parole supervision and the time when they are discharged from probation/parole supervision shows that the rate of juveniles who are employed is higher for both probationer and parolees at the time when they are discharged. However, 10.7% of total juvenile probationers and 17.9% of total juvenile training school parolees who were discharged from probation/parole supervision were unemployed.