NCJ Number
147783
Date Published
1992
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The treatment and rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents in Papua New Guinea are described.
Abstract
The development of the country has produced both positive and negative changes. The development of mineral resources has produced areas of wealth, a significant expatriate population that enjoys a western lifestyle, migration of youths to urban areas, and a weakening of the traditional system of social controls. More than half of the country's population is aged 24 or under. The programs in juvenile correctional institutions depend heavily on spiritual counseling and work programs. The institutions also provide some basic education. No research on program effectiveness has been conducted. Funding limitations, lack of clearly defined programs, lack of data on offender characteristics, insufficient numbers of spaces in juvenile correctional facilities, and outdated laws are among the problems the country faces. The churches operate the country's community-based correctional programs for juveniles and base many of them mainly on strong spiritual guidance. The government is attempting to develop a constructive social policy for juveniles to aid in juvenile delinquency prevention. The Juvenile Court Act that will take effect in 1993 will make many changes in the juvenile justice system. Currently the country needs programs that support integral human development, that recognize the nature of the community, and that recognize that delinquency in this country may result more from social than from economic causes.