The juvenile justice system is a system distinct from the adult system and has been created by legislation. The Juvenile and Family Court (JFC) is a constituent of the organized judiciary of Thailand. The Observation and Protection Center (OPC) was established to serve the JFC before the trial of juveniles and family affairs cases and after the adjudication of juvenile cases, to carry out other activities according to the orders of the court, and to correct and rehabilitate juveniles to be good citizens. There are two treatment programs: non-institutional treatment and institutional treatment. Probation is commonly used on first offender committing an offense of relatively minor nature. A training school is a juvenile institution receiving juveniles committed by the JFC for protective and innovative measures in lieu of a penal sanction. Academic education, vocational training, treatment service, spiritual and religious services, medical services, and sports, recreation, and athletics are provided. Aftercare plays an important role in the social reintegration of release from the Training School, the Vocational Training School, and the Drug Addiction Treatment Center. Thailand has an increasing problem of drug abuse among children and teenagers. The OPC has initiated a computer program for a juvenile database 2000. The basic defects in the non-institutional treatment and institutional treatment systems are the lack of intensity in the continuance of protective and innovative measures, and the lack of diversity in treatment and rehabilitation. 5 references