2 Treatment of juvenile probationers/parolees
The treatment provided to juvenile probationers and juvenile training school parolees is basically the same as that provided to probationers and parolees but excludes the treatment for designated violent offenders, the sexual offender treatment program, stimulants offender treatment program, and interim treatment system (See Subsection 2, Section 2, Chapter 5, Part 2), with the following measures also being implemented.
Table 4-2-5-6 shows the designation of treatment categories for juvenile probationers (excluding those placed under short-term probation for traffic offenses and those placed under short-term probation with the term of probation being 10 months or less) and juvenile training school parolees according to the categorized treatment system as of the end of 2009.
Table 4-2-5-6 Designation of treatment categories of juvenile probationers/parolees (as of December 31, 2009)
(1) Treatment of juveniles that committed heinous/serious offenses
Juvenile probationers and juvenile training school parolees that committed heinous/serious offenses such as homicide can be greatly affected by problems related to their predisposition and have complex serious problems with family relationships, etc. in many cases. They are therefore placed at the highest level of graduated treatment in enabling the intensive involvement of probation officers in developing their ability to adapt to society and feeling remorse for their acts with consideration given to their victims' will, etc.
(2) Treatment through violence prevention program
The life and conduct guidelines specify juvenile probationers and juvenile training school parolees with violent tendencies to take violence prevention program.
(3) Social participation activities
The treatment made available in probation/parole supervision mainly encourages juvenile probationers/juvenile training school parolees to participate in volunteer work, including nursing care at welfare facilities and also the cleaning of parks, etc., pottery classes and cooking classes, farm work, sports activities, and recreational activities, etc. in fostering a more appropriate social nature and enhancing their ability to adapt to society. In FY 2009, social participation activities took place a total of 345 times. Frequently implemented activities included “participating in nursing care for the elderly, etc. and volunteer activities” (97 times), “participating in cleaning and environmental beautification activities” (95 times), and “participating in creative activities, learning through hands-on experience, and various classes, etc.” (71 times), involving 1,141 juvenile probationers/parolees and 207 of their family members, etc. (Source: The Rehabilitation Bureau, Ministry of Justice).
(4) Measures for guardians
In response to this, probation offices have been providing guardians of juvenile probationers and juvenile training school parolees with guidance or advice until they reach 20 years of age in ensuring that they can appropriately supervise them, thoroughly understanding their living conditions, etc., rectify any behavior of the guardians themselves that could obstruct juvenile reformation/rehabilitation, and make information available that contributes to solving any problems pertaining to their delinquency through holding meetings with guardians, etc.
(5) Employment support, etc.
Systematic employment support has also been implemented for juvenile probationers/parolees. The National Center for Offender Job Training and Employment Support (Numata-cho), which accommodates juvenile training school parolees who intend to engage in agriculture, aiming at providing employment support through guidance/supervision and agricultural training, has been in operation since October 2007.