JUVENILE HELP AND DIRECTION CENTER IN THE COMMUNITY - AS INTERMEDIATE MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL - OUTLINE

• NCJ Number: 45343
• Author(s): H NISHIMURA
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Japan
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE 45TH INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR COURSE ON INCREASE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, FEBRUARY 10-MARCH 28, 1977

Annotation

THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS OF JUVENILE GUIDANCE CENTERS IN JAPAN ARE DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAMS OF THE CENTERS.

Abstract

WHEREAS POLICE AGENCIES ARE CONCERNED WITH JUVENILE OFFENDERS, AND THE YOUTH GROWTH PROGRAM WORKS WITH YOUTH IN GENERAL, THE CENTERS DIRECT THEIR EFFORTS TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF PREDELINQUENTS AND JUVENILES WITH BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS. A CITIZEN CLASSIFICATION IS DEVELOPED FROM DATA ON THE REASONS CITED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR ASSOCIATING WITH OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE JUVENILE HELP AND DIRECTION CENTERS, WHICH ARE GOVERNMENT-RUN, ARE SAID TO DISFAVOR VOLUNTEER WORKERS FROM CLASS 4 -- PEOPLE WHO WANT AN ORGANIZED COMMUNITY AND WHO ATTEMPT TO MOBILIZE SUPPORT FOR CHARGE. MOST VOLUNTEERS ARE RECRUITED FROM CLASS 1 -- THOSE WHO UPHOLD THE TRADITIONS AND MORES OF THE COMMUNITY. THE CRITICISM THAT THE JUVENILE CENTERS USE VAGUE CRITERIA IN SELECTING THEIR CLIENTELE IS REJECTED ON THE GROUNDS THAT THIS 'MARGINAL AREA' OF SOCIAL CONTROL REQUIRES THAT EACH SITUATION BE ASSESSED ON ITS OWN MERITS BY A STAFF MEMBER WHO IS SKILLED IN COMMUNICATING WITH JUVENILES. THE JUVENILE CENTERS ARE URGED TO EXPAND THEIR OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND TO ATTEMPT TO REDIRECT THE ACTIVITIES OF DELINQUENT GANGS THROUGH A GROUP APPROACH. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED, AND CENTERS AS AN INTERMEDIATE POINT BETWEEN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE YOUTH GROWTH PROGRAM ARE NOTED. (LKM)