NCJ Number
128743
Journal
Bulletin of the Criminological Research Department Dated: (1989) Pages: 12-14
Date Published
1989
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Information from the 1,488 inmates of juvenile training schools in Japan on August 10, 1987 formed the basis of an analysis of the inmate characteristics and the nature and results of their treatment.
Abstract
The youths were all treated in the "general short-term courses" or the "living guidance courses." They included 1,136 males and 352 females. Ninety-three were ages 14 and 15; 605 were ages 16 and 17; and 790 were ages 18 and 19. Very few had previously been admitted to correctional institutions. Eighty percent reported committing their first delinquent act at age 13 or later. Although they had tendencies to acting out imprudently, their personalities were not particularly deviant. Their treatment programs were designed to address their specific delinquent behaviors and generally achieved their goals. In contrast, inmates in other categories often experienced less success. Results showed that inmates who showed good achievement and progress in correctional settings could maintain law-abiding lives after their release and suggested the need to maintain current policies in juvenile training schools and to improve program effectiveness further.