In juvenile training schools, treatment corresponding to individual needs is conducted (individualization of treatment), paying full consideration to each person's personality, good points, future plans, physical and mental conditions, and delinquent tendencies.
  In order to realize individualization of treatment, the Classification Treatment System is adopted, by way of conducting scientific examination for each juvenile and classifying individuals with common characteristics and educational needs into groups, so as to provide most appropriate treatment for each of such groups. Furthermore, individual treatment plans are prepared and treatment is provided by setting goals, contents and methods according to the stage of each person's improvement. Through such treatment, it is aimed to encourage juveniles to have ambition, expecting that their voluntary efforts should facilitate their own rehabilitation.
  Treatment in juvenile training schools is divided into three educational stages - orientation stage, intermediate stage, and pre-release stage. Educational goals and contents are set in a progressive manner for each stage. Juveniles are classified into any of the first to third grades, among which the first grade and the second grade are further divided into two grades (upper and lower). Those newly admitted are placed in the lower second grade and then move to other grades according to their improvement.

  In juvenile training schools, juveniles are classified by (i) types of juvenile training schools, (ii) treatment programs, and (iii) treatment courses, according to educational necessity and personal characteristics.

  There are the following four types of juvenile training schools specified for age, level of criminal tendency, and physical and mental conditions of the juveniles to be received:
[i]  Primary juvenile training schools  For juveniles aged 14 or over but generally under 16 without any serious physical or mental disorder;
[ii]  Middle juvenile training schools  For juveniles aged generally 16 or over but under 20 without any serious physical or mental disorder;
[iii]  Special juvenile training schools  For juveniles aged generally 16 or over but under 23 without any serious physical or mental disorder, but with a strong criminal tendency; juvenile prisoners under 16 can also be admitted; and
[iv]  Medical juvenile training schools  For juveniles aged 14 or over but under 26 with a serious physical or mental disorder

  Juvenile training schools establish treatment programs that define the administrative detention terms. There are short-term programs and long-term programs, and the former are divided into general short-term programs and special short-term programs. Primary juvenile training schools and middle juvenile training schools use short-term programs and long-term programs, and special juvenile training schools and medical juvenile training schools use only long-term programs.
  Each of these three programs covers the following.
[i]  General short-term programs  For juveniles who are expected to be corrected and rehabilitated through short-term, continuous and intensive training for the relatively simple and easily treatable nature of their problems to be improved (the maximum term of detention is six months in principle)
[ii]  Special short-term programs  For juveniles who are less inclined to delinquency than those who are subject to the general short-term program and are suitable for open treatment (the maximum term of detention is four months)
[iii]  Long-term programs  For juveniles who are not suitable for short-term programs (the maximum term of detention is two years, in principle)
  Table 4-2-4-9 shows the number of juveniles newly admitted in 2005 by types of juvenile training schools and treatment programs.

Table 4-2-4-9  Number of juveniles newly admitted by types of juvenile training schools and treatment programs (2005)

  General short-term and long-term programs offer different treatment courses to meet the diverse educational needs of juveniles. There are three treatment courses in general short-term programs, and five treatment courses in long-term programs. The latter are further divided into several treatment classes.
  Table 4-2-4-10 shows the number of newly admitted juveniles by treatment courses.

Table 4-2-4-10  Number of newly admitted juveniles by treatment courses (2005)

  Among these treatment courses, the living guidance course G2 was established in 1993 so as to cope with an increase in foreign national juveniles admitted to juvenile training schools. In this course, treatment is provided for foreign national juveniles who need treatment different from that for Japanese juveniles, placing focus on guidance on basic living habits, Japanese-language acquisition, and future life plans from early stages according to their places to return after discharge.
  The living guidance G3 was established because the necessity came to be recognized widely due to the child serial killer case in Kobe in 1997. This course aims to make juveniles understand the gravity of the delinquency they have committed so as to bring out their sense of guilt and to foster their feelings of apology toward victims and families thereof.

  Living guidance is implemented on the following issues: (i) problems related to juveniles' ways of thinking, attitude, and behavior that could lead to delinquency, (ii) problems related to juveniles' predisposition and emotions, (iii) spiritual enrichment, (iv) problems related to juveniles' basic living skills, law-abiding and self-disciplinary behavior, and interpersonal relationships, (v) problems in relationships with juveniles' family and friends, and (vi) preparation for career selection, life planning, and social rehabilitation, by utilizing various methods, such as interview guidance, essay guidance, diary guidance, and role lettering, etc.
  In recent years, in order to deepen their understanding of victims' pain and feelings, programs for education from victims' viewpoints have been improved and enhanced. At the same time, approaches have been made positively to guardians so as to get them more involved in their children's matters.

Approaches to guardians (Parents meeting)

  Juvenile training schools currently offer vocational guidance on such subjects as welding, woodwork, civil engineering and construction, operation of construction machinery, agriculture and horticulture, office work, and caretaking services, etc. In 2005, 38.7% of the discharged juveniles had obtained qualifications or licenses related to their vocational guidance courses, and 53.0% had obtained qualifications or licenses unrelated to their vocational guidance courses. Fig. 4-2-4-11 shows the percent ratio of the qualifications or licenses obtained in 2005.

Fig. 4-2-4-11  Percent ratio of the qualifications or licenses obtained by juveniles discharged from juvenile training schools (2005)

  Securing employment after discharge from juvenile training schools is extremely important to establish juveniles' livelihood after discharge and prevent them from repeating delinquency and thereby realize their improvement and smooth reintegration into society. Comprehensive job assistance services to help discharged juveniles find jobs started in April 2006. In juvenile training schools, explanation on this service is given from the early stage after juveniles are admitted and appropriate vocational guidance is provided. For juveniles who are going to be discharged soon, juvenile training schools and public employment agencies jointly provide support for their job search through vocational counseling, job introduction, and provision of job/employment information.

  Academic education is provided for (i) those who have not completed compulsory education, (ii) those who need and wish to receive senior high school education, (iii) those with poor academic ability, and (iv) those who wish to proceed to higher education or return to the schools to which they had belonged.
  Of the juveniles discharged in 2005, 116 returned to junior high schools, while 150 returned to senior high schools. A total of 275 juveniles had received the graduation certificates of junior high schools while in juvenile training schools (Source: Annual Report of Statistics on Correction).

  Doctors and medical staff of institutions provide health and physical education on disease prevention, etc. to enhance juveniles' ability to maintain good health, taking into consideration their previous delinquency and living styles.
  Furthermore, in physical education, various sports activities are organized to enhance their basic physical abilities, concentration, patience, and endurance, and group games are utilized to develop compliance with rules and cooperation in interpersonal relationships.

  Special activities include (i) voluntary activities, (ii) extramural educational activities, (iii) club activities, (iv) recreation and (v) other events.
  As for voluntary activities, juveniles are assigned roles such as a day manager, a book manager, a maintenance manager, a recreation manager, etc. to develop autonomy and cooperativeness at most juvenile training schools. Furthermore, meetings and homeroom activities are organized and in-house magazines are created by them.
  Volunteer work and field trips are conducted as extramural educational activities. As volunteer work, many schools implement activities at welfare facilities and cleaning/beautification activities at nearby parks and public facilities, etc.

Volunteer work (cleaning of a park)

  Of those discharged from juvenile training schools in 2005, 1,286 (25.6%) had received some kind of medical treatment in sick rooms in schools, including those who received treatment in medical juvenile training schools. By type of illness, breathing problems had the largest share at 66.6%, followed by mental or behavioral disability (10.1%), and digestive problems (5.1%) (Source: Annual Report of Statistics on Correction).

  Juvenile training schools provide education in cooperation with nongovernmental volunteers in many ways. People across society, such as volunteer visitors, chaplains, members of the Women's Association for Rehabilitation Aid, and members of the BBS associations conduct supportive activities as private volunteers.
  Volunteer visitors give juveniles advice and guidance on mental problems and cultural guidance etc. As of December 31, 2005, 708 persons are consigned as volunteer visitors for juvenile training schools.
  Chaplains provide religious education at the request of juveniles. Juvenile training schools had 374 chaplains as of December 31, 2005.
  Members of the Women's Association for Rehabilitation Aid and members of the BBS associations regularly visit each juvenile training school to participate in school events such as birthday parties, cherry blossom viewing parties, and Coming of Age ceremonies, enjoy playing games and sports with juveniles, or participate in speak-outs as judges. Such volunteers offer support for educational activities in juvenile training schools in various ways. Interaction with these volunteers serves as a significant encouragement for juveniles in rehabilitating themselves.

Guidance by a volunteer visitor

Concert with local residents