Taipei: Premier Cho Jung-tai announced on Thursday that the Taiwanese government plans to invest NT$7.6 billion (US$232 million) over the next four years in efforts to prevent juvenile delinquency, amid a rise in crimes committed by minors.
According to Focus Taiwan, the announcement was made following a report presented by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) during a weekly Cabinet meeting. Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee highlighted the report's findings, which show a gradual increase over the past decade in the number of minors convicted of crimes.
The report detailed that most offenses committed by those under the statutory age of majority involve youths aged 15 to 18, with fraud and scams being the most common crimes. In response, the MOI has redesigned prevention protocols to include various government agencies and NGOs, aiming to establish a comprehensive three-level system to address the issue.
Premier Cho emphasized that youths between the ages of 15 and 18 are particularly vulnerable to recruitment by criminal organizations, especially if they do not continue their education. Lee conveyed the premier's call for all government agencies involved in addressing juvenile delinquency to collaborate on creating effective assistance and consultation protocols to support at-risk youth.
The government plans to allocate NT$7.6 billion from 2025 to 2028 to fund initiatives designed to prevent juvenile delinquency and support at-risk youths. During the Cabinet meeting, Cho also directed Executive Yuan members responsible for youth and child welfare to formulate policies that enhance prevention through improved consultation and support programs.