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Japan eyes 20-year background check for those working in jobs involving kids

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Sex crime records subject to disclosure would be limited to those finalized in courts, excluding cases where charges were dropped due to a settlement or other reasons.

This is probably a much larger number of cases than those who have been through the court and convicted.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

Excellent, do it Japan!!..

1 ( +11 / -10 )

Too late but nevertheless welcome.

6 ( +14 / -8 )

Operators of cram schools, afterschool clubs, babysitter services and talent agencies would not be obliged to use the system as they are not under state supervision.

Interesting that the talent agencies are not included. The people at Akimoto's agency can breathe a sigh of relief!

12 ( +17 / -5 )

“Eyes”, you mean this isn’t already a thing?!

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Late and limited, in one job I had 34 years ago I had to be CRB checked as I occasionally had to go in to children’s homes, even though I had no direct contact with the children, it is now even more strict. I can not believe Japan has not already got this sort of screening in place!

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Japan "eyes" a lot, does not so much.

-5 ( +10 / -15 )

*The government plans to submit a bill during the current ordinary Diet session to create the system, dubbed the "Japanese DBS," similar to the British government's Disclosure and Barring Service certificate, the sources said.*

*In addition to criminal law offenses**, violations of local ordinances, such as groping and voyeurism, are to be covered by the system.*

I wonder whether violation in Japan would include public urination, which was made a criminal offense in the UK under the 1986 Public Order Act.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Operators of cram schools, afterschool clubs, babysitter services and talent agencies would not be obliged to use the system as they are not under state supervision.

Well, parents should demand it before sending their children there.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Decades behind.

This was proposed / discussed here ages ago and progress has been close to nil.

Hopefully something concrete comes out of this and not passed onto future meetings, meetings, meetings.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Twenty years?

I have something on my record from FOURTY YEARS ago I still get questioned about, as a formality, when starting a new job, and it has nothing to do with sex crimes or children.

It just happened again YESTERDAY.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Only taken until 2024 to get here....

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

I made a comment on an article a while back about whether the people involved in looking after the kids had been background checked, which was deleted as 'off-topic'. No longer the case eh?

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

KIDS, Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Care Givers, Police Departments, Tax Offices, and or any one who is is to be in place of AUTHORITY or COMMAND should be screened to the teeth.

The general public will be at the mercy of these people and therefore it is the government job to make e sure that these so called PUBLIC SERVENTS will be Serving and Harming the general public.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

A good idea. But Asiaman7 makes a fair point. They should take the opportunity to fix the failings in the UK system rather than just adopting it as it is. People drunk and taking a leak on a night out in a corner can be charged with public indecency and get banned from a vast range of jobs that have only incidental contact with kids, despite being no risk. Staff it properly and make sure the fees are low and results, fast, or places like nurseries will find it difficult to get staff.

And make sure it can function offline, as the UK's CRS was taken out by a ransomware attack last year. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-65324125

It's important to do these checks, but don't go crazy on the 'safeguarding'. A lot of schools were doing really well but not ticking all the boxes on endless safeguarding rules. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/ofsted-reading-reading-council-b1123989.html

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I recall a time I was teaching English to kids in the community in the suburbs of Tokyo.

I would be left with young children the parents of which had just met me. They knew nothing about me and of course no background checks.

When I came back to my own country I went to do individual interviews with schoolchildren. Background checks were required and a video camera was in the room.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Why only sx crimes? Do 20 years or more background checks for people who steal, kidnap, etc. Who'd want to hire them? Protect the adults too.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Gbr48:

People drunk and taking a leak on a night out in a corner can be charged with public indecency and get banned from a vast range of jobs that have only incidental contact with kids, despite being no risk.

Heard that this is why streaking doesn't occur like it once did. People too afraid of being labeled a SO for baring all running across an area.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It is amazing to me that Japan doesn't do this already. I took a job as a school bus driver in Los Angeles in 1978 and had to pass a criminal background check to qualify for the job.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

桜川雪Today  11:17 am JST

Why only sx crimes? Do 20 years or more background checks for people who steal, kidnap, etc. Who'd want to hire them? Protect the adults too.

A background check is usually a police report that would include any crimes they committed so fret not 桜川さん

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Many employers in the EU who want to do back ground checks can only do so with the future employee's consent, it is all put down to their civil rights. But I suppose if any refuse, it is a good indication they have something to hide.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

my kids are happy in Japanese schools, i have no troubles at all with their staff / teachers, everything is taking care to the full details. I will say, their school management system is best of the world

1 ( +6 / -5 )

This is probably a much larger number of cases than those who have been through the court and convicted.

A younger and rather more hot headed Mr Kipling had 2 arrests in Japan for assault. Guilty as charged, one I regret a little, the other deserved it. Neither case went to court, never convicted. I was worried it may be a problem for P.R application but it was not.

If the cases were sexual assaults I would not be barred by this new background check plan. Most cases do not go to court, including rape and sexual assaults.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Creating a new industry I see. I see posters celebrating, and cheering on this new policy. So I ask you, who is going to foot the bill? Who do they have to pay the money to?

Okay, so let's hypothetically say it's the responsibility of the applicant to foot the bill for the security check.

GREAT IDEA -

So you're suggesting they pay a security company to do a background check into all your criminal history and social media profiles in order to work at a low-paying job that has little to no benefits?

Well, I can already tell you how that is going to work out. They won't be applying for those jobs. Then you'll be complaining about a shortage of qualified staff to work those jobs.

Be careful what you wish for. And the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Why only 20 years? Once a molester, always a molester.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Still twenty years behind the developed world….thanks Oyaji inc

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Brilliant?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

MarkToday  12:41 pm JST

my kids are happy in Japanese schools, i have no troubles at all with their staff / teachers, everything is taking care to the full details. I will say, their school management system is best of the world

It's fairly well organised, but it tends to stifle creativity and individuality and tends to focus on rote learning.

It's also highly stressful for both the kids and the teachers with a strong emphasis on testing and there is very little teacher training and development or internal or external assessment of teacher performance.

Then it breaks down below international standards in universities, apart from a few outliers (i.e. Todai).

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

No men as babysitters is a lot easier.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

"Operators of cram schools, afterschool clubs, babysitter services and talent agencies would not be obliged to use the system as they are not under state supervision."

It's obvious where all the offenders will go.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Bu there are ones that have not been caught doing it to kids yet!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

aside from that, if you really want to protect children, all should go through a psychological screening to detect cluster B patterns.

however since Japan has a problem recognizing the importance of that, weeding out the convicts will do just as much.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

@mark -

my kids are happy in Japanese schools, i have no troubles at all with their staff / teachers, everything is taking care to the full details. I will say, their school management system is best of the world

That's great that your kids and you are happy with their schools. Best in the world - compared to what?

The high school I teach at I also think is pretty good in most departments. In fact from my years of teaching there I'd say the teacher / student relationship is extremely positive and caring with individual support for troubled students.

The schools my kids went to - not at all the same. Elementary and Senior high focussed on study, study, study. Rules, Rules, Rules. In Junior high, thankfully the air was breathable and my kids enjoyed to a greater extent.

The PTA and OBs had way too much say in trivial matters and control and regimentation was the order of the day to "protect" the school image.

There's no-one-size-fits-all when talking about schools anywhere.

And re the article - as I mentioned earlier - any institution involving kids from judo clubs to kindergartens to cram schools to high schools, background checks of staff is essential and should have been put in law way back.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

TokyoLivingFeb. 22  07:11 am JST

Excellent, do it Japan!!..

> BigPFeb. 22  07:11 am JST

Too late but nevertheless welcome.

It's a rampant problem, worse than most even think.

Do. Or do not. As Yoda would say. Get on the ball.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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