JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AND YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS IN BURMA (FROM UNAFEI - RESOURCE MATERIAL SERIES NO 14, 1978, SEE NCJ-51514)

• NCJ Number: 51518
• Author(s): U N LYNN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: Japan
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE 46TH INTERNATIONAL TRAINING COURSE ON THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AND YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS, TOKYO, APRIL 19 TO JULY 9, 1977

Annotation

THE EXTENT AND GRAVITY OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, LEGISLATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS, THE ETIOLOGY OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN BURMA ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IN DISCUSSING THE EXTENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, AN UPWARD TREND IN THE VOLUME OF CRIME COMMITTED BY JUVENILES IS NOTED, TRACED BACK TO 1930. IT IS INDICATED TO BE A PRIMARILY URBAN PHENOMENON, WITH MALES PREDOMINANTLY INVOLVED. OF THE JUVENILES APPEARING BEFORE COURTS FROM 1973 TO 1975, 44 1/2 PERCENT WERE CHARGED FOR OFFENSES UNDER THE BURMA RAILWAY ACT. SUCH OFFENSES INCLUDED TRAVELLING BY TRAIN WITHOUT A TICKET AND SELLING TICKETS AND SEATS ILLEGALLY IN THE BLACK MARKET. UNDER THE SOCIALIST ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM IN BURMA, COMMITTEES OF PEOPLE'S JUSTICES, MEMBERS OF WHICH ARE ELECTED BY THE CITIZENS, SERVE AS PEOPLE'S COURTS AT EACH LEVEL OF TOWNSHIP, DIVISION, AND STATE, WITH THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE'S JUSTICES BEING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. AT THE TOWNSHIP LEVEL, THE COURTS CONSIDER THE CASES OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS WITH THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS AND LEGAL ADVISERS. THE PRIMARY PURPOSES OF THE COURTS ARE INDICATED TO BE TO PROTECT THE JUVENILE OFFENDER FROM CORRUPTING INFLUENCES AND CORRECT HIS ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR. PROBATION FOR JUVENILES, DEFINED AS THE CONDITIONAL SUSPENSION OF PUNISHMENT WHILE THE OFFENDER IS PLACED UNDER PERSONAL SUPERVISION OF A PROBATION OFFICER FOR GUIDANCE AND TREATMENT, IS BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. THERE ARE FIVE JUVENILE INSTITUTIONS, FOUR FOR BOYS AND ONE FOR GIRLS, DESIGNED FOR EDUCATIVE, PROTECTIVE, AND REHABILITATIVE PURPOSES. ALTHOUGH NO FORMAL AFTERCARE SERVICE FOR JUVENILES EXISTS IN BURMA, SOME EFFORT IS MADE AT THE TIME OF RELEASE TO FIND SUITABLE EMPLOYMENT FOR RELEASEES. NOTING THAT LACK OF PARENTAL CONTROL AND STABLE FAMILY LIFE CONTRIBUTES TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, SOCIAL EDUCATION SERVICES FOR PARENTS ARE DESCRIBED. EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH COMMUNITY COHESIVENESS IN THE MIDST OF URBANIZATION ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE EMPLOYMENT MARKET FOR YOUTH ARE ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE SERIOUSLY LACKING, AND SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT ARE OFFERED. LIMITED DATA ON THE EXTENT OF JUVENILE CRIME IS INCLUDED. (RCB)