Guidelines for Counseling to Correct, Treat, and Rehabilitate Children and Youth in the Pre-lawsuit Stage: Samut Sakhon Juvenile and Family Court

Abstract

This research aims to (1) study the process of correction, treatment, and rehabilitation for children and youth in the Counseling Center at the level before filing a lawsuit and (2) study counseling approaches to correct, treat, and rehabilitate children and youth at the Counseling Center In the pre-lawsuit stage according to Section 73. This research used a qualitative study method and collected data through in-depth interviews, together with group discussion. The key informants were the commander, counselors for case owners, psychologists, youth and parents of youth offenders. The results of the study found that Section 73 was a special measure instead of criminal proceedings during the pre-lawsuit stage or postponement of prosecution, which had a process starting from the court after consideration. There was an order to temporarily release the child or youth by placing the child or youth in the care of their parents and reporting to the Counseling Center every 15 days and appointing a counselor to screen them to correct, treat, and rehabilitate children or youth who had committed crimes. The counselor would provide a report on the changes of the child or youth every 15 days to be used for consideration and adjudication of cases. As for the counseling guidelines for correction, treatment, and rehabilitation for children and youth in the pre-lawsuit stage in Section 73, It was found that counseling according to Section 73 was the most difficult counseling. Because it was the beginning of the process of correction, treatment, and rehabilitation, children or youth and their families would have fear and anxiety in coming to counseling. Therefore, guidelines for counseling during the pre-lawsuit stage included (1) building good relationships for trust; (2) counseling with flexibility; (3) planning and determining effective measures; and (4) having various monitoring. The suggestion for the study was that Samut Sakhon Juvenile and Family Court should organize workshops for counselors to exchange knowledge about processes and methods for correcting, treating, and rehabilitating children, youth and families according to Section 73 and other sections. In addition, there were suggestions for the family institution to take part in raising their children in a warm and close manner, and other provincial Juvenile and Family Courts should conduct further research into various related sections, i.e., Section 132 and Section 90.