Source: (2006) Asian Criminology: 1:9-20.
This paper begins by examining the arguments that led to the change of emphasis
from residential training and detention to community-based measures in Hong Kong. Police
cautioning and community support services are introduced. An evaluation of the services
provided found that the majority of respondents reported high levels of satisfaction with
them. It is likely that the services exerted positive influences on the respondents_ deviant
behaviour, family values and sense of social responsibility, but one-fifth of them continued
to commit deviant acts. Parents_ participation was not high. Young offenders rarely took
responsibility for the offence they committed or understood the harm they had done to
victims, and victims were not involved in deciding the intervention plan. The conclusions
raise issues about the future for Hong Kong. They consider new diversionary strategies for
responding to young people and debate the values that should underpin them.
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