Treatment is provided to juvenile prisoners in consideration of their characteristics based on two fundamental principles,"
individualization of treatment,"and"diversification of treatment contents and method."
The subjects of vocational training include welding,automobile maintenance,and electrical engineering,etc.Many juvenile prisoners obtain publicly acknowledged qualifications or licenses,or acquire vocational skills that will help them become independent and rehabilitated after their release.
For academic education,the Matsumoto Juvenile Prison established a branch of a local public junior high school in its premises.Also,juvenile prisons in Morioka,Matsumoto,and Nara have launched correspondence courses for senior high school education in cooperation with local prefectural senior high schools.Juveniles may take social correspondence courses or correspondence school education if they so desire.
Explanation of terms
Indeterminate sentence: Indeterminate sentence means a sentence of imprisonment given without setting the term of imprisonment in advance.It is stipulated that such sentence shall be given by determining the maximum and minimum terms within the scope of the sentence in question.For example,any juvenile who is punishable by imprisonment with or without labor for a limited term of three years or more may be given a sentence of"imprisonment with labor for three years or more but five years or less"(excluding any suspended sentence).The maximum term of any indeterminate sentence given to a juvenile shall not exceed10years,while the minimum term shall not exceed five years.
Individualization of treatment: Individualization of treatment means that treatment is implemented according to the characteristics and needs of each prisoner through such measures as the formulation of a treatment plan for the prisoner,designation of a person in charge of the prisoner,and evaluation of the academic grades of the prisoner.
Diversification of contents and method of treatment: Diversification of contents and method of treatment means that various kinds of treatment are given to each prisoner such as individual consultation,individual guidance including guidance by diary,guidance depending on the type of treatment using various treatment techniques,and recommendation for vocational training,etc.in consideration of the situations of individual prisoner.