NCJ Number
51524
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF DIVERSION AND INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS ARE DISCUSSED FOR THE PHILIPPINES, JAPAN, ECUADOR, AND ETHIOPIA.
Abstract
THIS REPORT SUMMARIZES PAPERS PRESENTED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES IN A WORKSHOP ON INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT AND DIVERSION FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS. THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PHILIPPINES DISCUSSED POLICE DIVERSION AND ADVOCATED THE SETTING OF CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING WHETHER TO RELEASE JUVENILE SUSPECTS TO PARENTS OR REFER THEM TO SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES. THE TREATMENT OF A PARTICULAR CLASS OF INMATES IS DISCUSSED IN THE PRESENTATION BY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM JAPAN. THE CATEGORY OF PRISONER DISCUSSED IS CHARACTERIZED BY AGGRESSIVENESS, VIOLENCE, IMPULSIVENESS, GANG ORIENTATION, AND REBELLIOUSNESS AGAINST OFFICIAL RULES. HE ALSO LACKS PERSEVERANCE IN WORK AND THE FULFILLMENT OF A LIFE PLAN. SPECIAL EMPHASIS IS GIVEN TO VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF SUCH OFFENDERS. A SECOND JAPANESE REPRESENTATIVE EXPLAINED THE PURPOSES OF THE PREPAROLE SERVICE IN HIS COUNTRY. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, A PAROLE OFFICER VISITS AN INMATE AS SOON AS HE BECOMES LEGALLY ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE. THIS ALLOWS FOR FULL USE OF THE TIME AVAILABLE BEFORE POSSIBLE RELEASE TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE INMATE THAT WILL HELP DEVELOP A SHORT-TERM PROGRAM TO AID IN COMMUNITY ADJUSTMENT UPON RELEASE. ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE FROM JAPAN CONSIDERED SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATION OF A 'CLASSIFICATION HOME' FOR JUVENILES, WHERE JUVENILES ARE DETAINED WHILE INFORMATION TO DIAGNOSE NEEDS AND PROBLEMS IS GATHERED. PROBLEMS HAMPERING THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN ECUADOR AND SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTING TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN THAT COUNTRY ARE DISCUSSED. THE ETHIOPIAN REPRESENTATIVE SPOKE ON PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH INSTITUTIONALIZATION IN HIS COUNTRY. (RCB)