Growing affluence in Taiwan has given rise to new social problems. Juvenile crime, while not alarmingly high, is an increasing concern. Recent efforts by the Ministry of Justice to reform correctional measures have been lauded as major breakthroughs in the judicial process.
Ch'en Meng-ying, Chief Justice of the Courts in Taiwan, points out that major factors influencing the development of juvenile (those children under the age of eighteen) crime start in the home. According to Ch'en, there are three identifiable 'home models' which seem to encourage juvenile delinquency. They are, foremost, homes in which the parents have behavioral problems or criminal tendencies. Children exposed to this kind of environment will naturally accept it as normal. The second type of unhealthy home environment is that headed by a divorced, single parent. This home situation is often unstable, so children tend to stay away from home, becoming susceptible to peer pressure and bad influences. The third home situation is one in which the parents are both working. Children therein are often undirected and undisciplined.
School also plays an important role in juvenile behavior. If the child is actively involved in his classes, he will not look elsewhere for diversion. Early education both in the family and in school is most important, for juvenile crime is the result of gradual aggrandizement of small thefts and pranks practiced during childhood.
Previously juvenile offenders were severely punished. But recently, judges and experts agree that the environment is as much at fault as the child. Juvenile crime occurs at a stage when a person's sense of right and wrong is not fully developed, when behavior is readily molded by external factors.
Therefore, judges now stress 'leniency' and 'education' in dealing with offenders. First time offenders are often returned to the care of their family and given a lecture. Judges often have the children report on holidays to perform some public services. In more serious cases, case workers, not unlike probation officers, are assigned to the offenders family.
Officials feel that in most cases the family atmosphere should be preserved, and guidance given in the home. However, to deal with repeated offenders, modified reformatory training schools have been established.
With these new measures, the Republic of China is dealing successfully with juvenile offenders.
(Gerald Hatherly)
[Picture Caption]
Juvenile Court Judge Ch'en Meng-ying hears a case at a Juvenile Court.
2. Chin Yuan-chi, head of the Changhua branch of the Taiwan After-Care Association, is one of Juvenile house's two supervisors.
3. Co-supervisor Sung Pai-Tao, principal of the Changhua reformatory, is constantly concerned for the boys at Juvenile House.
Juvenile Court Judge Ch'en Meng-ying hears a case at a Juvenile Court.
1.2. The children help their counselors with the housework.
1.2. The children help their counselors with the housework.
3. Every morning the oldest of the boys writes a verse from the Bible on the bulletin board and recites it for the others.
4. Preventing troubled youths from committing crimes is the main task of Juvenile House.
5. When a student misbehaves, the counselors kindly and earnestly correct him.
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