The purpose of the research is to examine the influence of COVID-19 on
juvenile reformatories and probation and to provide policy implications to
develop effective countermeasures for epidemic diseases such as COVID-19. To
this end, quantitative analyses were conducted with internal data. Interviews were
also conducted with employees and juveniles at the facilities, and guardians. In
addition, reponses of juvenile facilities in USA, U.K., Germany, and Japan to
COVID-19 were reviewed.

According to the results of quantitative analyses, the number of inmates, the
number of new inmates, the number of releases, and the proportion of early
releases among total releases did not change significantly after the outbreak of
COVID-19 for short-term (up to 6 months) and long-term confinement (up to
2 years) while the number of inmates at reformatories for 1-month confinement
substantially decreased because the youth who receive 1-month confinement stay
at the community until their confinements are scheduled.

For short-term and long-term confinement, the number of inmates who had
received educational programs increased since the outbreak of COVID-19 due
to the decrease in expulsion from schools which resulted from the increase in
online classes at schools in community. Vocational training and character
education were not significantly influenced by COVID-19 because these programs
are mainly administered by employees of the facilities. However, some programs
run by external specialists or volunteers were managed by employees or replaced
with other programs, which might influence the effectiveness of the programs.

Most of programs which require contacts with people outside the facilities, such
as programs for guardians, religious programs, visiting, volunteer activities, and
field trips decreased or stopped due to COVID-19. For example, religious
programs were partially provided online, and visiting was replaced with phone
calls.

For juvenile probation, the number of presentence investigations and the length
from receipt of a presentence investigation to delivered final report were not
affected by COVID-19 except for the period when courts were closed due to
the pandemic while presentence investigation were conduced through phone
calls. Likewise, the number of guidance and surveillance by probation officers
were not influenced by COVID-19, but the proportion of face-to-face guidance
and surveillance significantly decreased. The numbers of a community service
order and an education order changed slightly while the execution of them
decreased consistently since the outbreak of COVID-19, and they were hardly
executed in August and September. Number of warrants for arrest decreased,
and release after arrest increased during COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the results of interviews with employees, juveniles, and guardians,
juvenile justice agencies are making various efforts to maintain both the
protection from COVID-19 and the execution in an emergency. In the
reformatories and the diagnosis center, the youth entering the facilities were
quarantined, meetings were set in closed-type areas, and restricting the external
instructors and activities. The probation offices conducted a limited number of
executions under full-scale disinfection measures and conducted
non-face-to-face probation. However, during the process, all institutions were
having difficulty in COVID19 due to spatial constraints for prevention from the
disease, overload of employees, lack of manuals in situations, and lack of
government cooperation. The juveniles and guardians were generally satisfied
with juvenile justice agencies’ measures and understood the measures taken for
safety. The juveniles in the reformatories were a little disappointed due to the
limited situations, especially the closed-type meeting sessions. However, the

juveniles were generally satisfied with their staying at the facilities. The juveniles
under probation were not complaining, even liked the non-face-to-face
probation, but they also recognized that probation’s effectiveness is better when
face-to-face. The juveniles’ guardians under probation considered the probation
itself was sufficient enough; the adjustments after the COVID19 were acceptable.
As a result of the interviews, it is shown that the efforts of the institutions and
employees maintain the current safety level while giving satisfaction to the
juveniles and guardians. However, the safety maintenance of juvenile justice
agencies is temporarily defending problematic situations. If the problems are not
resolved, emergency and long-term risk are high; thus, it is necessary to prepare
as countermeasures as possible.

Based on the results of quantitative analyses with internal data, interviews with
employees, juveniles, and guardians, and literature review on responses of juvenile
agencies in other nations to COVID-19, the following policy implications are
presented in terms of preventing the spread of epidemic diseases and carrying
out programs and services. Regarding the prevention of the spread of epidemic
diseases at juvenile institutions, first, the agencies should have a designated
quarantine area for the you who are infected or showing symptoms, or for new
inmates. In addition, an education area should be separated from an
administration area. In particular, it is necessary for diagnosis centers and
facilities which provide programs for one-month confinement to have enough
quarantine space to prevent mass infection. Second, juvenile agencies need to
discuss with courts regarding reducing or suspending confinement, education
order, and community order to reduce the risk of epidemic diseases at the
agencies. They also need help from other governmental agencies to secure enough
disinfection materials. Third, the agencies should develop comprehensive and
effective response guidelines for epidemic diseases, and provide employees with
regular simulation training based on the guidelines. In terms of execution of
administrative duties such as providing programs and services, first, the juvenile
agencies should relieve overworked employees because officers are more likely
to become burned out physically and psychologically from additional duties of
controlling epidemics. Therefore, the agencies should adjust workload by focusing
on main work. Second, the agencies should select or develop programs and
services which can be provided online during the spread of epidemics. Third,
comprehensive assessment on the influence of COVID-19 on juvenile
agencies(employees, juveniles, and guardians) should be conducted in order to
develop effective policies and strategies for epidemic diseases. The agencies need
to make youth well-being a priority when developing policies and strategies.