Japanese Police to Help Juvenile Offenders through Restorative Justice |TODAY|

Submitted by dan. on 2007-09-26 23:00.
Courts | Law Enforcement | Offender Support | Victim Support

In an effort to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents, police will encourage offenders to talk to their victims to explain why they targeted them. The system, known as restorative justice, was adopted in the United States and Europe in the 1970s with surprisingly good results.

The method is already used here by family courts and enthusiastic lawyers involved in juvenile cases but it will be the first time for the National Police Agency to introduce it. The program will kick off from mid-October.

Dialogue sessions will be held in the presence of police officers in charge of taking minors into custody....

Parents and supporters will also be allowed to have a say.

Offenders will be required to state what they think they should do to atone for their actions.

Sessions will be held before police send papers to prosecutors and family courts. However, the sessions are expected to have no bearing on decisions taken by prosecutors or family courts.

For their part, police will not refer to any statements made by a juvenile delinquent when referring cases to prosecutors or family courts....

Those aged 14 or older who have not been arrested and admit to delinquency will be eligible for the program.

Police will select those who will likely not be put on probation or charged with a criminal offense.

Such cases usually do not go to trial, so perpetrators usually do not have the opportunity to face up to their actions.

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