Thais Impressed With Japanese Approach Towards Young Inmates

[Lite Beer]

Thais impressed with Japanese approach towards young inmates

Children need understanding parents who can raise them properly so that they can grow up to be socially acceptable adults.

Wannapa Khaopa The Nation on sunday

Young inmates at remand homes can become socially acceptable people, too, when they are raised by "parents" who understand them. This was the message at the first meeting of the Asia-Pacific Council for Juvenile Justice (APCJJ).

In Japan, married couples, who are government officials working for juvenile justice-related agencies, have taken on the responsibility of being their adoptive parents. Each of the couples has to take care of about 12 young offenders.

Thai officials found this case study of juvenile justice, presented recently at the APCJJ meeting, interesting.

"Living together as if they are part of the same family, each couple treats them as their own children, the parents teach them life skills and also the youngsters are given education. So, after graduation, they will be ready to live with people in society peacefully," said Tawatchai Thaikyo, director-general of the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection (DJOP).

"Such rehabilitation is successful and interesting as it helps foster suitable behaviour in them," he said.

Thailand's approach was also seen as interesting among other Asean countries. It looks into what motivates a juvenile to violate laws, and classifies them into different groups - from low to high risk - then provides them different rehabilitation programmes to cope with delinquents having different motivations or problems, according to Tawatchai.

"The IJJO [international Juvenile Justice Observatory] wants detention to be the last alternative. Our tool, that helps understand their motivations, can help many youngsters considered in the low-risk group from being detained as the DJOP helps them to reach a compromise with plaintiffs," he added.

The IJJO, the DJOP and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation jointly organised the APCJJ meeting recently, attended by representatives from nine Asean countries (excluding Brunei), Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Canada, and Spain.

"We would like most of the countries to have the same open mind and initiatives," Cristina Goni, secretary-general of the IJJO, said.

"Juvenile justice can be improved if governments invest more in prevention of youth crime and violence," she added.

"Importantly, the strong message to the rest of the countries of the world is that juvenile justice is a priority. This is the key message of the meeting," said Cedric Foussard, IJJO director of international affairs.

Both said they would like people working in the juvenile justice community to consider children as children when it came to punishment, to give them a second chance to change themselves in a more suitable way so that they would grow up as acceptable adults.

"Sadly, in many Asia-Pacific countries, children are not separated from adults," Goni said.

"You should not consider the same sanction for adults and for children. We consider preventive measures to avoid recidivism that prevent children to commit crimes again. What we would like to see implemented everywhere is that justice systems give the child an opportunity to be integrated in society," Foussard said.

The meeting encouraged the member countries to change the appropriate minimum age of criminal responsibility for juveniles to 12 years old. Currently, some countries have set 10 years while some countries preferred 14 years as the minimum age for criminal responsibility.

It had an agreement to allow juveniles to participate in rehabilitation so as to create friendly rehabilitation for them.

More data collection was also urged so that the Asia-Pacific region will be able to have better reports on juvenile justice.

With different skills and standards of juvenile justice among relevant personnel in different countries in this region, the meeting agreed to seek assistance from the IJJO to upgrade knowledge, skills and standards for them through training.

Goni said that the IJJO is considering training for all stakeholders on children's rights and on how to deal with a child. This is because many officers from different agencies all over the world have not received specific training on children's rights, international standards and basic approaches on how to speak and deal with a child.

-- The Nation 2012-07-08

[Scott]

Most developed countries do not incarcerate juveniles unless it is absolutely necessary. The first option, if they can't live at home, is to place them in foster care, followed by group home care. Those that can't successfully live in a community setting or who are too dangerous, will go to a juvenile offenders home.

[Yunla]

Children learn by mimicry, starting almost as soon as the umbilical is cut and not ending until after puberty in most cases. Kids mimic the people around them especially the older people or 'power-holders' to use that old fashioned phrase, kids see people with power and the kids themselves are so powerless, so they mimic the actions of the power-holders in an subconscious attempt to become powerful in future. That is an entirely natural process.

The problem is when children see corrupt policemen, corrupt prime ministers, or violence used as a solution, the children automatically make the link between 'becoming powerful' and 'being corrupt and violent.'

In more mundane terms it is a case of 'leading by example', parents or care-home workers such as I was raised by, or juvenile prison staff, all need to show integrity and restraint. If they do so, children will mimic this behaviour in an effort to become a fellow power-holder in future.

Edited July 8, 2012 by Yunla

[jaltsc]

"Living together as if they are part of the same family, each couple treats them as their own children, the parents teach them life skills and also the youngsters are given education. So, after graduation, they will be ready to live with people in society peacefully..."

Does this mean if they are "adopted" by a wealthy family, they will learn that they can buy their way out of trouble, cheat to get into better schools and learn who to pay off in order to advance in society?

[chinook]

'In Japan, married couples, who are government officials working for juvenile justice-related agencies, have taken on the responsibility of being their adoptive parents. Each of the couples has to take care of about 12 young offenders.' ....................shouldn't that read as 1-2 young offenders?

[Kilgore Trout]

One of the major differences I see here is that there is a very strong work ethic in Japan; once an adult you are expected to "work very hard."

Japanese children see the example and the social pressure on them to bust their arse is heavy.

I just don't see that in Thailand.

When the Japanese lose face (they are expected to) kill themselves (not in modern day; but the tradition of feeling that way is still there), for the Thais losing face, they will just kill the person who brought it out into the open.

There is more to this policy in Japan than just copying them; the social fabric needs to be there as well; it just isn't in Thailand.

[noitom]

"Thais impressed." A rarity for sure.

[bigbamboo]

They know how to build railways too.

[silsburyhill]

They know how to build railways too.

And have much better taste.

Also, are adults expected to give up their seats to kids on public transport?

You are forgetting Thailand is the culture of the child.

[silsburyhill]

Yes but the Japs are extrmely disciplined. Exactly the opposite as Thais! How can this Country compare itself with Japan? There is 1 universe between the 2 Countries. And here the offials are mostly corrupt. Maybe they would use the youngs for commit crimes for them... That's how i see the things. Also here there is an unbelievable rate of illetrate officials too!

I just had a horrible vision of Thailand opening the first Fagin's School for Pickpockets.

Thai kids don't 'pickpocket'. Some older kids do, but petty thievery is rare in comparison to the West. Penalties much harsher. No 'hug a hoodie' here

And I do wish a certain poster in particular would stop calling them 'Japs'. The war's over get over it.

[mrtoad]

Not that some of Thailands leaders show much of an example, e.g. Chalerm and his toilet crew, DL and his puppet show etc, etc

[hellodolly]

One of the major differences I see here is that there is a very strong work ethic in Japan; once an adult you are expected to "work very hard."

Japanese children see the example and the social pressure on them to bust their arse is heavy.

I just don't see that in Thailand.

When the Japanese lose face (they are expected to) kill themselves (not in modern day; but the tradition of feeling that way is still there), for the Thais losing face, they will just kill the person who brought it out into the open.

There is more to this policy in Japan than just copying them; the social fabric needs to be there as well; it just isn't in Thailand.

Quite rite. like trying to compare apples to oranges. The only thing they have in common is they both grow on trees. I had to laugh at the following quote.

"Importantly, the strong message to the rest of the countries of the world is that juvenile justice is a priority. This is the key message of the meeting," said Cedric Foussard, IJJO director of international affairs"

He has obviously not heard of the work Thailand is avoiding in their effort to white wash their leader Thaksin.

[harryfrompattaya]

They know how to build railways too.

Listen to me the Japanese are very gentile people just ask any Japanese Prison Guards I think it is their Buddhist tradition. Remember they have love all their neighbors .

[metisdead]

Posts containing derogatory comments have been removed.

[Pseudolus]

The posters that point out the marked difference between Japanese culture and Thai culture are spot on. Strong adult male and female role models are the norm there; here they mollycoddle the kids, especially male kids. Maybe if they imported Japanese prison guard couples it might work. If they used Thai parents, the kids would not change at all; being told "oh it's ok. Did the nasty policeman tell you not to do something. Oh poor you have another pork chop. Here's a K-pop t-shirt for you and some hair gel".

[brianP]

The lock em up and throw the key away approach is not working. The misguided youth only get a criminal education from prison.

Maybe showing them a normal and good upbringing will help, along with teaching them a trade to work in. It takes just one right person to help turn some kids around. It is so much easier to do honest work than a hard life of crime!

[theajarn]

Thais are surprised that kids behave well with good parenting?? Hold the presses! Perhaps they'll also discover that the world is round!

[metisdead]

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[Bagwan]

Yes but the Japs are extrmely disciplined. Exactly the opposite as Thais! How can this Country compare itself with Japan? There is 1 universe between the 2 Countries. And here the offials are mostly corrupt. Maybe they would use the youngs for commit crimes for them... That's how i see the things. Also here there is an unbelievable rate of illetrate officials too!

I just had a horrible vision of Thailand opening the first Fagin's School for Pickpockets.

Thai kids don't 'pickpocket'. Some older kids do, but petty thievery is rare in comparison to the West. Penalties much harsher. No 'hug a hoodie' here

And I do wish a certain poster in particular would stop calling them 'Japs'. The war's over get over it.

And Americans 'Yanks"? What about Nakhon Ratashima instead of Korat? Don't be absurd. Have you ever read of anybody here objecting to being called a Brit or farang?

Context, inflexion and emphasis define the true meaning of a word. The use of the F word preceeding a classification might make your point though.

[BirdsandBooze]

There's no substitute for good parenting.

[BarryM]

I visited change Mai with a Thai friend who'd had two years in a juvenile detention facility there for yaba.

We had dinner with his former teacher a woman in her 40s. Somehow we ended up in a boy go go bar for drinks. She recognized more than half the boys there as former inmates

So I guess the Thai system isn't working, or it it - depending on your point if view

[BarryM]

Before Thailand fix the correction facilities they need to fix society

This particular boy had the stereotypical alcoholic father, illiterate mother, had been sent to be a monk aged 13 where the abbot and his mates took a shine to him so took turns buggering him for a year before something younger and prettier donned an orange robe.

The juvenile detention facility completed his education, turning him into the syphillitic rent boy that I found in a bar on surawong.

[edgarfriendly]

Before Thailand fix the correction facilities they need to fix society

This particular boy had the stereotypical alcoholic father, illiterate mother, had been sent to be a monk aged 13 where the abbot and his mates took a shine to him so took turns buggering him for a year before something younger and prettier donned an orange robe.

The juvenile detention facility completed his education, turning him into the syphillitic rent boy that I found in a bar on surawong.

Every time my Japanese friends visit Thailand they struggle to acclimatise to seeing vast hoardes of fully grown men sitting/wandering in the street doing NOTHING (except maybe preying.)

Yea i know how i spelt it.

PARASITES!!

[swillowbee]

... the Japanese are perhaps the most civilized and cultured society on earth ... the Thais? ... well ... they have a snowball's chance in Hell of even mimicking the highly principled, civilized behaviors and values and the modern Japanese culture ... I've lived and worked in both countries.

... an exellent op-ed piece in the BKK Post published yesterday (8 July) by a bright and perceptive young Thai socio-economic opinion writer drills down way beyond the feudal system most view Thai culture as ... Voranai, the writer, describes in plain, unvarnished words, that Thai society is more base than feudal ... he refers to it as "tribal" ... his word, not mine ... Google "who's your daddy?"+voranai ... this is a superb characterization of Thai social structure and dynamics, with a very well-developed rationale for how it got this way ... do yourself a favor ... this is a must read, really.

... into this Thai tribal social structure, pour Thai cultural values ... the result is predictable ... a Petrie dish overflowing with pathological social ills.

... (side note: a Thai friend and western-trained behavioral psychologist who returned to practice in Thailand describes Thailand as a "pathologically sick nation"... a separate discussion).

... that Thai representatives attended this conference is to me little more than media fluff ... any Thai ambitions (or, appearances) to actually implement any of the Japanese higher level thinking I believe will pass ... a couple of deeply ensconced Thai cultural values that raise in me this cynical view are:

• Resist change (keep the poor Thai prai disenfranchised and exactly where they are ... marginalized); and,
  
• A perception of concern is more highly valued than actual concern (the lack of accountability bred into Thai spiritual values guarantees nothing is actually expected by Thais ... of any social status).
  

... as desperate as young Thais are for higher standards of civilized behavior and quality values, and simply basic responsible parenting (never mind Thai adults, they seem as total lost causes), the modern tribal Thai society and cultural values are incapable of providing those standards.

... might that change? ... I doubt it will happen in our lifetimes... broad social changes are led by leaders of integrity and values ... look around Thailand ... there appears no Aung San Suu Kyi, Nelson Mandella, Mohandas Ghandi, Martin Luther King ... not now, and not on the horizon ... Thai society produces exactly what it is designed to produce ... uncivilized tribal behaviors.

... only a very thin veneer of the appearance of modernity conceals this reality ... we needn't scratch too deeply to see Thai's true cultural character ... it is clearly apparent in the events about which we read every single day in the newspapers here ... page after page ... day after day ... on, and on, and on ... in my 12 years here, little changes in these stories ... even the family names are unchanged.

... I've children here ... I am deeply troubled for their futures, and hope I can prepare them so that they have choices in their futures, that they can control their own destinies and can avoid being ground alive in the Thai's tribal gristmill ... real hope and real choices are not luxuries a super-majority of Thais are allowed, as they remain suspended in their proper places.

... I can only hope that there will arise a Thai leader of social revolution ... that might be a young child somewhere, perhaps still unborn, in whom the humanity, decency and intelligence of human enlightenment might someday fire a realization by Thais that what they are doing to themselves and their own children is a soulless abomination, and totally unnecessary ... that child will probably be armed with little more than a library card ... the one thing that must scare the bejesus out of the tribal elites that enslave the hopes of a country that can only be described as a nation of children.

... sorry ... I depart somewhat ... but ... it sometimes just boils over.

Edited July 9, 2012 by swillowbee

[simple1]

... the Japanese are perhaps the most civilized and cultured society on earth ... the Thais? ... well ... they have a snowball's chance in Hell of even mimicking the highly principled, civilized behaviors and values and the modern Japanese culture ... I've lived and worked in both countries.

... an exellent op-ed piece in the BKK Post published yesterday (8 July) by a bright and perceptive young Thai socio-economic opinion writer drills down way beyond the feudal system most view Thai culture as ... Voranai, the writer, describes in plain, unvarnished words, that Thai society is more base than feudal ... he refers to it as "tribal" ... his word, not mine ... Google "who's your daddy?"+voranai ... this is a superb characterization of Thai social structure and dynamics, with a very well-developed rationale for how it got this way ... do yourself a favor ... this is a must read, really.

... into this Thai tribal social structure, pour Thai cultural values ... the result is predictable ... a Petrie dish overflowing with pathological social ills.

... (side note: a Thai friend and western-trained behavioral psychologist who returned to practice in Thailand describes Thailand as a "pathologically sick nation"... a separate discussion).

... that Thai representatives attended this conference is to me little more than media fluff ... any Thai ambitions (or, appearances) to actually implement any of the Japanese higher level thinking I believe will pass ... a couple of deeply ensconced Thai cultural values that raise in me this cynical view are:

• Resist change (keep the poor Thai prai disenfranchised and exactly where they are ... marginalized); and,
  
• A perception of concern is more highly valued than actual concern (the lack of accountability bred into Thai spiritual values guarantees nothing is actually expected by Thais ... of any social status).
  

... as desperate as young Thais are for higher standards of civilized behavior and quality values, and simply basic responsible parenting (never mind Thai adults, they seem as total lost causes), the modern tribal Thai society and cultural values are incapable of providing those standards.

... might that change? ... I doubt it will happen in our lifetimes... broad social changes are led by leaders of integrity and values ... look around Thailand ... there appears no Aung San Suu Kyi, Nelson Mandella, Mohandas Ghandi, Martin Luther King ... not now, and not on the horizon ... Thai society produces exactly what it is designed to produce ... uncivilized tribal behaviors.

... only a very thin veneer of the appearance of modernity conceals this reality ... we needn't scratch too deeply to see Thai's true cultural character ... it is clearly apparent in the events about which we read every single day in the newspapers here ... page after page ... day after day ... on, and on, and on ... in my 12 years here, little changes in these stories ... even the family names are unchanged.

... I've children here ... I am deeply troubled for their futures, and hope I can prepare them so that they have choices in their futures, that they can control their own destinies and can avoid being ground alive in the Thai's tribal gristmill ... real hope and real choices are not luxuries a super-majority of Thais are allowed, as they remain suspended in their proper places.

... I can only hope that there will arise a Thai leader of social revolution ... that might be a young child somewhere, perhaps still unborn, in whom the humanity, decency and intelligence of human enlightenment might someday fire a realization by Thais that what they are doing to themselves and their own children is a soulless abomination, and totally unnecessary ... that child will probably be armed with little more than a library card ... the one thing that must scare the bejesus out of the tribal elites that enslave the hopes of a country that can only be described as a nation of children.

... sorry ... I depart somewhat ... but ... it sometimes just boils over.

Great post & I did read the article referenced in your Google search suggestion. Just one clarification request. I have quoted your wording as follows:

(the lack of accountability bred into Thai spiritual values guarantees nothing is actually expected by Thais ... of any social status).

Care to expand? Are you suggesting everything is preordained from a Thai Buddhist view of the world, so why bother - or have I misunderstood the intent of your wording?]]

EDIT: I do not have a deep understanding of Thai Buddhism, but am I not right that it teaches care for all living being - surely the flow on from this is following the right path/actions both from a temporal and spiritual interpretation.

Edited July 9, 2012 by simple1

[Kilgore Trout]

I can only hope that there will arise a Thai leader of social revolution

Unfortunately, and the fact of which brings your point home, is that many people view Thaksin as that leader

He even likened himself to Nelson Mandela

[Pseudolus]

I can only hope that there will arise a Thai leader of social revolution

Unfortunately, and the fact of which brings your point home, is that many people view Thaksin as that leader

He even likened himself to Nelson Mandela

I'm sorry, but people can not always point to Thaksin holding the fault for everything bad in this country. It's almost like the people that believe Col Sanders fries every piece of chicken in KFC or Bin Laden plants every bomb in the world. The guy is a turd, but this has nothing to do with him. Most Thai's haven't got a clue about politics unless it directly affects their pocket, and even then it is limited to jingoism and myths; like most first world countries 200 years ago. This issue is considerably more deeply routed in the psyche of Thailand and Thaksin is not the cause of it, but the product of this as well.

[Kilgore Trout]

I can only hope that there will arise a Thai leader of social revolution

Unfortunately, and the fact of which brings your point home, is that many people view Thaksin as that leader

He even likened himself to Nelson Mandela

I'm sorry, but people can not always point to Thaksin holding the fault for everything bad in this country. It's almost like the people that believe Col Sanders fries every piece of chicken in KFC or Bin Laden plants every bomb in the world. The guy is a turd, but this has nothing to do with him. Most Thai's haven't got a clue about politics unless it directly affects their pocket, and even then it is limited to jingoism and myths; like most first world countries 200 years ago. This issue is considerably more deeply routed in the psyche of Thailand and Thaksin is not the cause of it, but the product of this as well.

I agree with what you say. It's scary though; I have talked with some Thais who seem to view him as a demigod; like he can do no wrong

BTW; I much prefer Church's, Brown's or even Popeyes