3 Flow of procedure pertaining to protective measures

(1) Probation in a decision made by a family court

In principle a juvenile placed under probation/parole supervision receives guidance, supervision, and the support necessary in their reformation/rehabilitation from a probation officer or volunteer probation officer until turning 20 or being discharged from probation (See the beginning of Section 2, Chapter 5, Part 2 for an overview of the probation process).

When a family court decides to place a juvenile under probation it can recommend either short-term probation or short-term probation for traffic offenses as being the most appropriate for those who have not developed strong delinquent tendencies and can be expected to be reformed/rehabilitated if placed under probation for a short-term period. Probation is then carried out based on that recommendation.

(2) Commitment to a juvenile training school and parole supervision after release

Juvenile training schools mainly accommodate juveniles who have received the disposition of being committed to a juvenile training school by a family court and provide them with correctional education. As of April 1, 2010, there were 52 juvenile training schools (including one branch school) nationwide.

The term of confinement in a juvenile training school can in principle be until the juvenile has turned 20, but they can continue to be accommodated after turning 20 for a period not exceeding one year from the decision to commit them to a juvenile training school. Committed juveniles are typically discharged upon completion of their term of confinement but a family court can, however, decide under certain conditions to extend their confinement if requested to do so by the director of the pertinent juvenile training school for a term not exceeding the date on which the juvenile turns 23. In addition, a family court can also decide whether to continue the confinement of the juvenile at a medical juvenile training school if requested to do so by the director of a juvenile training school for a term not exceeding the date on which the juvenile turns 26.

However, committed juveniles can also be discharged on parole before completion of the term of their confinement on a decision by the Regional Parole Board, and in this case, the juvenile is placed under parole supervision after discharge until their term of confinement is complete or until their discharge is decided by the Board.