Juvenile classification homes mainly receive male and female juveniles under 20 years of age, who have received an adjudication of protective detention made by a family court, and perform classification on the predisposition of such juveniles. Classification on the predisposition of such juveniles is performed based on expertise in medicine, psychology, pedagogy, sociology, and others. The results of the classification will be significant material for hearings performed by family courts, and will be also utilized in reviewing what treatment should be given upon executing the protective measures thereafter. The term of protective detention in which the juveniles can be accepted at juvenile classification homes should be normally 4 weeks at maximum. Due to the Law for Partial Amendment to the Juvenile Law, etc., which came into force on April 1, 2001, such term can be extended to 8 weeks at maximum only when there are good reasons to recognize that hindrance would occur to a hearing unless the juvenile in question is admitted to a juvenile classification home in the cases of offenses that are punishable by death penalty or imprisonment with or without labor, for which it has been decided to conduct examination of witness, etc. for the finding of facts of delinquency.
  As of April 1, 2003, 52 juvenile classification homes are in place nationwide. These juvenile classification homes perform treatment so that admitted juveniles can wait for hearing peacefully, as well as the above-mentioned classification on the predisposition. Juvenile classification homes also perform classification on the predisposition of juveniles other than juveniles who have received an adjudication of protective detention, etc., at the request of the general public, or public or private organizations, etc.