Effective Measures for the Treatment of Juvenile Offenders and Their Reintegration Into Society in Tonga (From UNAFEI: Annual Report for 2007 and Resource Material Series No. 75, P 123-127, 2008, Grace Lord, ed. See NCJ-229038)

• NCJ Number: 229044
• Author(s): Loupua Kuli
• Date Published: August 2008
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: Japan

Annotation

This paper reviews the achievements and challenges of the Tonga Probation Division in providing rehabilitation and reintegration services to juvenile offenders.

Abstract

The general services provided by the Probation Division in relation to juvenile rehabilitation and reintegration are the preparation of presentencing reports, planning and supervising community work, coordinating the Youth Diversion Program, counseling, the supervision of probation orders, and outreach programs for youth ("Youth Crime Awareness"). The newest of these programs is the Youth Diversion Program (YDP). It diverts juveniles charged with criminal offense from formal court processing. It focuses on holding youth accountable for the harms that their offenses have caused to victims and to the community and engaging them in activities that repair or mitigate these harms. The YDP also increases community involvement in the justice process. The YDP aims to resolve juvenile cases quickly and avoid creating a criminal record for youth that could prevent travel and limit employment opportunities. The Prosecution Service has the discretion to nominate eligible juveniles for diversion to the YDP. To be eligible for the YDP, youths must be 17 years old or under, be a first-time offender, and have committed a minor offense. Challenges currently facing the Tonga Probation Division are limited financial resources, the embedded Tongan cultural belief that a criminal must be punished formally by a court, a prevalent deviant youth subculture, the lack of a separate court for juveniles, the increasing number of juveniles from broken families, and the lack of sufficient staff to coordinate the YDP. Fortunately, some of the resource gaps for serving juvenile offenders are being addressed by some nongovernmental organizations such as the Tonga Salvation Army. Among its many services for youth, the Salvation Army conducts a 12-step comprehensive treatment program. 1 table showing major offenses committed by juvenile offenders in Tonga (2002-2005).