NCJ Number
186895
Date Published
1999
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This is the executive summary in English of the report on the 1998 research activities of Japan's Criminological Research Department within the Research and Training Institute of the Ministry of Justice.
Abstract
Six research studies are profiled. The first study involved a survey of juvenile offenders to determine their characteristics and those of their offenses. The study reports an increase in heinous and violent offenses by juveniles in recent years and cites the following characteristics of juvenile offenders: diminished moral awareness, fragile human relationships, a lack of self-control, and a tendency toward impulsive behavior. A second study analyzes the Annual Report of Judicial Statistics to profile the hearings and dispositions of Family Court proceedings in juvenile cases. A third study analyzed the subsequent development of juveniles placed on probation and juveniles released to parole from juvenile training schools. The fourth study obtained data on the characteristics of juveniles detained at classification homes, where they underwent behavioral classification. The fifth study involved a survey designed to determine the life awareness and sense of values of juvenile delinquents, while also clarifying differences between the current survey and the results of similar previous surveys. The sixth research study examined the situation of victims (surviving relatives) of violent crimes for which the perpetrators are currently serving long sentences (life sentence or a recommended minimum of 8 years imprisonment).