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The Juvenile Division investigates and tries cases concerning juveniles
aged twelve and older but less than eighteen and children under twelve years of
age. This Branch has established a "Committee of Juvenile Assistance and
Guidance Foundation" and signed a charter to "protect the tender
seedlings of the nation." The court hopes to increase the number of
enthusiastic individuals who are willing to give kind protection to
juveniles in the society.
Judges of the Juvenile Division take charge of the cases in which juveniles twelve
years of age and above, as well as children under twelve commit crimes. It also
deals with cases involving juveniles who are likely to commit offenses, as
described by law. During the hearings, the juveniles or children must be
accompanied by their legal agents. The probation officer who arranges pre-trial
investigation shall appear and express his/her opinion to the court. Judges and
court clerks may wear no official uniforms. The hearings are not open to the
public; however, relatives of the juveniles and other appropriate people may be
permitted to attend.
Since juveniles can be reformed, the principle of the division is "better to
teach than to punish." If a Juvenile Division judge considers it appropriate to
impose a penalty on a juvenile, he/her may transfer the cases to the public
prosecutor for investigation. These cases are taken only when the juvenile is
over fourteen and has committed a serious or specific crime, such as theft,
receiving stolen property, causing injury, interference with public functions,
etc. The Juvenile Division handles all other cases as reformatory cases, and
juveniles are referred to their legal agents for intensive education and care
or given one of the following three punishments if necessary: 1. reprimand, and
guide and assistance on holidays and vacations; 2. probation; 3. reformatory
education. In addition to these measures, compulsory or medical treatment may
also be imposed.
The Juvenile Division has a Probation Officer's Office. Probation officers
execute probation affairs, including pre-trial investigation, observation,
probation, and guide and assistance on holidays and vacations. In accordance
with judges¡¦ dispositions, juveniles and children shall report to the probation
officers and receive group or individual counseling to help them live a new
life.
The proceeding of a juvenile case is conducted in the juvenile court. Juvenile offenders could appear in the court with their parents. A probation officer should present persistence investigation in the court and express recommendations for the judge to make a suitable disposition. A juvenile delinquent who commits a serious offense should be transferred to the criminal court. If the juvenile court deems that the offense is of a trivial nature, the juvenile case will be practiced by the procedure of reformation matters The juvenile offender will be treated by one of three rehabilitative measures as follows: (1)reprimand or with guidance on holidays if needed, (2)probation, (3)reformatory education in a reformatory educational institution. Guidance to juvenile offenders on holidays and probationer's surveillance are conducted in a group or individual method by probation officers.