Should the justice system treat young offenders as adult criminals, or should it attempt to rehabilitate them in youth facilities?

Extensive research has shown that young people are not mature enough to face the justice system in the same way as adults because certain parts of their brains are not yet fully developed (Kurlycheck, 2011, p. 9). This incomplete brain development categorises them as vulnerable, with an increased possibility of engaging in criminal activity while seeking self-identity. Crimes committed by young people, therefore, require urgent attention from the justice system. Measures such as rehabilitation should be established to help young offenders transform themselves, as they are still in the process of development, rather than subjecting them to harsher punishments as adult criminals—punishments that could increase the likelihood of recidivism in the future. This paper argues that young offenders should not be treated as adult criminals; instead, they should be given opportunities for rehabilitation that can help them become beneficial members of society. This paper will examine three main reasons why young offenders should not be treated as adult criminals: first, young offenders are recognised as children and require protection by the justice system; second, transferring them to adult prisons limits their access to rehabilitation and self-improvement; and third, adult prisons harm their mental health rather than helping them reform.

Young offenders are categorised as children and therefore need to be protected by the justice system. As children, they are not sufficiently capable of dealing with adult courts, which may result in decisions that severely harm their future. Evidence shows that when young people commit offences, their understanding of the consequences of their actions is not fully developed (Kurlycheck, 2011, p. 2). It is the responsibility of the justice system to provide this protection. As Lyons (2011, p. 2) argues, juvenile courts exist not to criminalise youth but to address the needs of young people and society. Therefore, reducing the severity of punishment or providing opportunities for rehabilitation can help young offenders become better individuals. What these young offenders primarily need is protection—protection that enables the justice system to help them avoid incarceration and to safeguard their future and their place in society.

Another significant issue is that young people who commit crimes and are transferred to adult courts are likely to lose opportunities for positive transformation. Kurlycheck (2011, p. 2) cites criminologist Donna Bishop’s suggestion of a “core status transformation” from “redeemable youth” to “unsalvageable adult.” It is also argued that young offenders affected by juvenile justice decisions—which are theoretically designed based on societal perspectives of juvenile delinquency—should be provided with opportunities that meet their developmental needs through rehabilitation (Abrams, 2013, p. 5). By contrast, when young offenders as young as 16 are required to face adult courts and harsher sentences, they are deprived of rehabilitation options. Ensuring access to rehabilitation systems can help safeguard the future of these young offenders.

In addition, the psychological development of young people is at serious risk when they are treated as adult criminals. Teplin et al. (2006, as cited in Howell, 2009, p. 16) argue that “nearly three-fourths of detained female youths and two-thirds of detained male youths have a psychiatric disorder.” Treatment by inmates or staff in adult prisons can expose young males and females to physical and sexual abuse, which negatively affects their behavioural development and increases the likelihood of future recidivism (Kurlycheck, 2011, p. 7). Such treatment and assaults are common in many adult prison environments, and their impact on young inmates is likely to result in long-term mental health problems. These effects do not end with incarceration but continue to affect young people after their release, potentially making them harmful to society rather than productive members of it.

There are claims by conservative reformers who argue for a more punishment-oriented approach in juvenile courts, including proposals for “just deserts” in juvenile justice practices (Krisberg & Austin, 1993, p. 4). This argument is often based on the principle of retaliation— “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” (Lyons, 2011, p. 6). However, punishment is not the most effective way to educate young offenders and does not guarantee that they will refrain from committing further crimes. Evidence shows that within three years of release, approximately two-thirds of offenders are rearrested, and more than half return to prison (Langan & Levin, 2002, as cited in Howell, 2009, p. 13). Furthermore, Krisberg and Austin (1993, p. 4) state that “there is no credible research evidence that these tougher penalties actually have reduced youth crime.” Therefore, harsher punishment does not improve outcomes for young offenders or reduce crime; instead, it negatively affects their physical and mental well-being and their ability to reintegrate into society.

This paper has argued that it is essential for the justice system not to treat young offenders as adult criminals. Young offenders need protection and opportunities for rehabilitation to prevent them from becoming vulnerable victims within adult prisons. The insights presented may help reduce the number of youths transferred to adult courts, decrease rates of rearrest and reincarceration, and lower the prevalence of mental health disorders among young offenders. Greater efforts are needed to ensure that rehabilitation systems are available to support young offenders, improve societal perceptions of youth, and help them transform into productive members of society. Treating young offenders as adult criminals effectively shuts down their chances for meaningful change.

NB: This paper was prepared during the final English Professional Program (EPP) at VUW and may still be relevant to the current situation in Timor-Leste.

The negative impact of long working hours on businesses

Long working hours do not benefit businesses; rather, they have detrimental effects on productivity and financial performance. These negative outcomes are primarily linked to reduced employee efficiency and declining health.

Prolonged working hours lead to employee fatigue, which increases the likelihood of errors and diminishes overall productivity. As highlighted by some authors, mistakes caused by exhaustion can significantly harm business performance. In contrast, shorter working hours can enhance focus and efficiency, resulting in higher productivity and positive economic outcomes.

Long working hours also pose serious risks to employees’ health. Insufficient rest and continuous physical and mental strain can lead to health problems over time. When employee health is affected, businesses often incur additional costs for medical support and assistance, further impacting their financial stability.

Therefore, the belief that long working hours guarantee success, based on the experiences of some individuals, cannot be universally applied to all employees. Differences in health, expectations, and personal circumstances must be acknowledged. Thus, sustainable business success requires organizations to prioritize employee well-being and promote work–life balance, enabling both organizational goals and employee welfare to be achieved.

 

Why is anticipatory governance crucial in Timor-Leste's policy formulation?

Timor-Leste is facing issues regarding introducing policies with reduced risk of future harm. One of the issues can be distinctly spotted in the recent introduction of a policy to increase taxes on luxury items and imported goods, including cars, cigarettes, sugars, and sugary drinks, which has caused widespread speculation and concern among citizens. The government failed to anticipate the possibility of a sudden rise in market prices. 
As a country that practices a free market, the negative impact on the market was inevitable. Unfortunately, consumers have been the most affected by the rise in prices of goods other than the four items listed by the government, which has no clear justification. 
This issue raises the question of why the problem occurred in the first place. 
In Timor-Leste, the policy-making process follows the general principles of policy formulation adopted by countries worldwide. The government submits a proposed law, and the member of parliament or bench party submits a project law. It undergoes scrutiny by commissions established in the National Parliament based on its thematic area before it is questioned at the plenary. 
A well-formulated and scrutinized policy should involve every stakeholder responsible for the related area of a policy. This involvement ensures that the policy is formulated based on the best interests of its people, with a sense of good forward-looking to anticipate and reduce risks or future harm that might occur during its implementation. 
However, it appears that Timor-Leste's policy formulation process does not include an adequate assessment of potential future harm that a policy may cause. This lack of foresight could be attributed to the committee's insufficient expertise and advisory support during the policy approval process.
Another problem is the language used in most laws submitted for discussion at the National Parliament. 
The government and other stakeholders need to address these issues to ensure that policies are formulated in the best interest of the people and with a sense of good forward-looking to anticipate and reduce risks or future harm that might occur during their implementation.

To be continued...

Water Supply in Dili, Timor-Leste: Challenges to Clean Water Availability

Water supply is one of the major issues facing communities in Timor-Leste. Although the government has made efforts to provide water and sanitation services, significant challenges remain, including water scarcity even in urban areas, particularly during periods of drought as a result of climate change. This paper discusses the problem of water supply in the capital city, Dili, Timor-Leste, with a focus on the availability of drinking water and community resilience in accessing water during droughts. It also examines the actions that the government and related entities can take to address key challenges in future climate change policies.

The responses proposed in this paper focus on building community responsibility and resilience through empowerment and awareness-raising in water management, alongside strong government commitment to long-term fiscal policies for human resource development and infrastructure investment. These responses are expected to be implemented in the medium term (3–5 years) in Dili as a pilot project and then expanded to other municipalities under a long-term policy framework. This is essential, as the Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan Vision 2030 aims to provide 24-hour access to clean water and sanitation for the entire population, recognising that water is a basic necessity requiring urgent action.

Current context and trends

Water supply management in Timor-Leste falls under the National Directorate of Water and Sanitation and is supervised by the Ministry of Public Works. In addition to government management, several agencies and development partners are involved in supporting community access to water and sanitation. According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), in 2011 access to water was 69% and sanitation coverage was 39%. While urban areas met or exceeded targets, rural areas remained underserved, particularly in sanitation (World Bank Group, 2015, p. iv). Rural areas achieved only 60% of the 75% target for water supply and 30% of the 55% target for sanitation (World Bank Group, 2018, p. 3).

Regarding urban water supply, the capital city of Dili presents an important case for analysis. As the economic centre of the country, Dili experienced population growth of more than 15%, reaching approximately 220,000 people between 2010 and 2015 (Population Census, 2015). Additionally, Timor-Leste’s tropical geography makes Dili particularly vulnerable to long dry seasons and droughts with minimal rainfall as a result of climate change, compared to other municipalities (WFP, 2020, p. 8). Population density combined with poor water resource management makes access to drinking water increasingly difficult, especially during prolonged droughts.

In response to water management challenges, the government has enacted laws and regulations to govern water distribution for public consumption, including Decree-Law No. 4/2004 on water distribution schemes and Decree-Law No. 38/2020, which established the National Authority for Water and Sanitation and approved its statutes (Jornal da República, 2020). Decree-Law No. 38/2020 also regulates coordination mechanisms at the national level for adopting exceptional measures during extreme droughts or floods. In addition to government initiatives, international agencies and development partners continue to support efforts to improve access to clean water in both rural and urban areas.

Challenges

Despite government efforts to improve clean water availability and achieve the MDG targets for urban water supply by 2015, clean water and sanitation remain significant challenges today. These challenges are influenced by community behaviour and limited resources, in addition to the impacts of climate change. Such factors may hinder the government’s ability to ensure sustainable access to clean water in the future, particularly during droughts. As noted by Shakiya and Yamaguchi (2008, p. 904), drought is a slow-onset natural disaster whose cumulative impacts may not be immediately visible.

Community behaviour contributes to water scarcity in both rural areas and the capital city, Dili, especially during the dry season. Evidence suggests that communities often experience exhaustion from accessing water and conflicts over water sources due to illegal connections or removal of pipes by others (ADB, 2006, p. 8). Moreover, there is limited practice of water conservation within communities, making it difficult to prevent wastage and exacerbating water scarcity during drought periods.

Lack of resources is another critical challenge in resolving water management issues. Although Timor-Leste has adequate water resources for development (World Bank Group, 2018), it lacks skilled human resources, infrastructure, and strong institutions for effective water management and maintenance. As Ryan (2019) notes in The Diplomat, water management in Timor-Leste remains inconsistent, as the country continues to rely heavily on international support for “knowledge, resources, and funds to promote water governance.”

Practices

Given these challenges, effective policy management practices are crucial for addressing future water scarcity. A forward-looking approach to anticipating future risks is essential, as future events are inherently uncertain (Boston, 2016, p. 12). In the context of climate change and its slow-onset impacts, government responses should focus on improving policy delivery and management processes.

To address challenges related to community behaviour, the government should consider involving communities directly in water management and distribution. Community empowerment, awareness-raising, and participation in planning processes are essential, as low levels of knowledge and weak water management culture present significant obstacles. Encouraging communities to articulate their needs and engage with government decision-making can lead to more appropriate and effective solutions. Increased community involvement can enhance responsibility, cooperation, and a sense of ownership, thereby improving the availability, accessibility, and sustainability of clean water in both the short and long term.

Addressing the lack of resources requires sustained government attention to long-term fiscal policies that prioritise human resource development, infrastructure investment, and institutional capacity-building. Coping with climate change requires systems with sufficient capacity to adapt (Ministry for the Environment, 2017, p. 18). Investment in human resources can reduce dependence on international expertise by equipping local professionals with the necessary knowledge and technical skills in water management and maintenance.

Infrastructure investment is equally important. The government must commit to future-focused investments that ensure high-quality water infrastructure. According to a joint assessment by the World Bank and other agencies, budgets for urban and rural water supply and sanitation in Timor-Leste are unpredictable and often insufficient, particularly for rural sanitation (World Bank, 2015, p. iv). To ensure infrastructure quality, collaboration among stakeholders—including technical experts, scientists, local communities, civil society, and relevant institutions—is vital throughout project identification, design, and implementation. Such inclusive management practices can enhance long-term sustainability and strengthen societal resilience to water scarcity during droughts.

Institutional cooperation is another essential component of effective water resource management. The World Bank (2015, p. iv) reports that district-level planning is often poorly coordinated and that communication between national and district levels is inconsistent. Improving cooperation among institutions and stakeholders is necessary to better identify and analyse future risks across social, environmental, economic, and technological dimensions (Boston, 2016, p. 13).

Conclusion

In conclusion, water scarcity remains a significant challenge in Timor-Leste, particularly as climate change contributes to prolonged droughts during the dry season. To mitigate climate change impacts and ensure water availability during droughts, the government must address challenges related to community behaviour and resource limitations. A forward-looking policy approach, supported by effective policy management practices, is essential to improve water resource management and ensure the long-term availability and sustainability of clean water for future generations.

 References

 Asian Development Bank, (2006). Timor-Leste: Community-managed water supply and sanitation. A Case Study from the 2004 Project Performance Audit Report for Water Supply and Sanitation Rehabilitation Projects Phase I (Grant 8185-TIM[TF]) and Phase II (Grant 8189-TIM[TF]) in Timor-Leste September 2006. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/evaluation-document/35926/files/community-water-supply-tim.pdf

Boston, J. (2016). Anticipatory governance: How well is New Zealand safeguarding the future? Policy Quarterly, 12(3), 11–24.

Jornal da Republica, (access 2020). “Creates the national authority for water and sanitation and approve the respective statutes“ (Cria a autoridade nacional para a agua e o saneamento e aprova o respetivo estatutos). http://www.mj.gov.tl/jornal/public/docs/2020/serie_1/SERIE_I_NO_39.pdf

Jornal da Republica, (access 2020). “The water distribution scheme for public consumption (Que aprova o regime de distribuicao de agua para consumo publico). http://www.mj.gov.tl/jornal/public/docs/2002_2005/decreto_lei_governo/4_2004.pdf

Ministry for the Environment, (2017). Adapting to climate change in New Zealand. Stocktake Report from the Climate Change Adaptation Technical Working Grouphttps://www.mfe.govt.nz/sites/default/files/media/Climate%20Change/adapting-to-climate-change-stocktake-tag-report.pdf

Population and housing census, (2015). https://www.statistics.gov.tl/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Wall-Chart-Poster-Landscape-Final-English-rev.pdf

Ryan, C. (2029). Timor-Leste: Why water is more important than oil. https://thediplomat.com/2019/08/timor-leste-why-water-is-more-important-than-oil/

Shakya N. & Yamaguchi Y., (2010). Vegetation, water and thermal stress index for study of drought in Nepal and central northeastern India, International Journal of Remote Sensing, 31:4, 903-912, DOI: 10.1080/01431160902902617

The World Bank, (2018). Timor-Leste Water Sector Assessment and Roadmap. Water Global Practice. http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/433121521173685667/pdf/124329-WP-P163648-PUBLIC-Timor-Leste.pdf

The World Bank, (2018). Water Supply and Sanitation in Timor-Leste: Turning Finance into Services for the Future.

World Food Program, (2020). Timor-Leste, Agro-climate outlook. https://www.wfp.org/publications/timor-leste-agro-climate-outlook-perspetiva-agro-klimatika

NB: This is an assignment submitted to VUW (School of Business and Government) in 2020 which may still be relevant to current challenges in Timor-Leste’s water management system.

"NASAUN NEBE'E PRODÚZ MENUS SEI HAMOSU KORUPSAUN NEBE'E A'AS"

Karik los ou Lae, maibe situasaun nune'e dalabarak ita akompanha mosu dadaun no dalabarak liu mosu iha nasaun nebe'e foin hahu dezenvolve... 

Konsekuensia husi la prodúz barak mak sei depende ba importasaun...importa ho hanoin atu taka eskasés...maibe tradisaun ida ne'e ikus mai bele hamosu mos korupsaun liu husi osan "komisi"...

Iha situasaun nune'e mak ita nota ou hetan ema riku sira nebe'e kontrariu tebes ho kondisaun maioria ema iha nia sorin-sorin.

Balun ho rikusoin nebe'e halo ita admira "husi nebe'e?"

(Balun bele ho razaun ruma nebe'e razoavel maibe balun ladun tama iha ita nia kakutak...)

Bele nota mos katak, meius nebe'e lais liu iha nasaun nebe'e menus produsaun laos ho dalan prodúz maibe renova buat nebe'e iha ona....

Tanba ne'emak ekipamentus balun nebe'e sei diak no sei bele uza tenke troka. Edifisiu sira tenke pinta fali maske hare ba diak hela, no tenke halo bebeik mudansa ba parte interior no esterior.😒

Ho nune'e, wainhira hare em jeral hanesan akontese dadaun dezenvolvimentu maibe lolos ne'e lae karik...akontese mak projetu "bongkar pasang"/"projetu sobu no monta", no repete bebeik tanba iha repetisaun ne'emak mosu oportunidade barak. Lalika halai do'ok liu, ezemplu deit projetu estrada iha Kapital Díli, ida monta ida sobu, ida halo kaber ida halo kuak, karik laiha programa nebe'e integradu ou tanba projetu emerjensia? Ou razaun seluk...

Osan nebe'e gasta laiha retornu ou la prodúz maibe hodi konsumu deit.

Wainhira tarjetu ba renovasaun laiha ona komesa halai ba kria polítika foun.

Tuir hau nia hare...karik balun la konkorda

KESTAUN LIAN PORTUGUÊS IHA SERVISU ADMINISTRASAUN PÚBLIKU

Los duni katak, lian Português alémde kria difikuldade ba timor oan iha prosesu aprendizajem, sai mos dezafiu boot iha nivel servisu administrasaun públiku.

Ita hatene no sente hela katak durante ukun a'an to agora em termus rekursus humanus ema rai liur nafatin domina ita.

Dalabarak ita kestiona kualidade servisu ita nia ema timor oan no apresia liu servisu ema rai liur nian (tanba kestaun lian no menus rekursus humanus nebe'e kualifikadu).
Ita la konsiente katak ita mak kria kondisaun hirak ne'e. Ita la sériu atu investe iha ita nia ema. Ita fakar osan barak ba kontrata ema husi rai liur hodi mai apoiu ita ho salariu mínimu fulan ida $9000 no másimu bele to'o $20.000 liu. Bele sura tok tinan ida ita lakon hira ona? No kuaze orgaun 4 no instituisaun barak iha timor laran fo fiar liu ba ema husi rai liur duké nia ema rasik em termus de halo servisu assesoria (no balun servisu kma'an sira mos).

Los duni katak ita presiza aprende lian Português atu bele fasilita ita, maibe laos ho tempu badak nune'e. Agora laos ona tempu uluk nebe'e ema aprende lalais (karik tanba tempu neba aplika kustume "palmatória" wainhira la hatene?).

Iha tempu badak nia laran ita obriga atu uza lian Português hanesan lian ofisial halo ita nia funsionariu barak enfrenta difikuldades iha dezempenhamentu servisu. Karik lian Português iha nia vantajem ba ita nia inan-aman, tiu, tia no avo balun nebe'e uluk akaba sira nia estudu tempu neba ho lian Português maibe sira nia tempu atu liu dadaun ona no tempu agora ba jerasaun foun nebe'e foin lalais ne'e.

Maioria timor oan ho idade joven nebe'e presta dadaun servisu ba estadu barak mak akaba estudu nivel universitáriu ho lian Indonésia no kakutak sei "fresh" hela ho lian Indonésia, tanba ita foin husik a'an no hetan ita nia independensia tinan sanulu resin liu ba, alémde ne'e nafatin akompanha programa televizaun Indonésia nian (tanba karik ita nia televizaun ladun iha programa adekuadu atu anima nia telespetadores).

Funsionariu sira barak liu mak "cetakan" lian Indonésia enkuantu leis no dokumentus servisu importante sira nebe'e presiza atu fera kakutak iha hotu lian Português. Tenke fera ulun uluk ba lian hafoin fera ulun fali ba konteudu husi dokumentus. A'at liu tan mak liafuan ho termu a'as sira, seidauk tan nia gramátika no sst. (halo servisu doubru nebe'e presiza esforsu estra no tempu estra mos). Tanba ida ne'e ita nia boot sira prefere rezultadu servisu husi ema liur (ho lian Português) nebe'e sira fiar katak los liu no karik lais liu (maibe balun mos realiza katak sira prefere ho lian Tétum).

Tetu ba buat hirak ne'e, tanba sa ita la dezenvolve no uza ita nia lian Tétum? Tanba sa ho osan barak nebe'e fakar ba kontrata ema husi rai liur, nusa la poupa netik balun hodi investe iha ita nia ema timor oan sira nebe'e barak mak sei ho idade produtivu, matenek no hakarak boot atu kontribui ba dezenvolvimentu nasaun ida ne'e?! Investe ho sériu no investe ho hanoin ba rezultadu longu prazu nian.

Ita hatene katak Wainhira ita hasai osan investe iha ita nia ema timor oan atu hasae sira nia kualidade ita sei la lakon, no ita kontribui ba dezenvolvimentu rekursus humanus iha ita nia rai, kontribui mos ba rendimentu perkapita nebe'e iha aumentu tanba hafoin iha formandus ho kualidade barak ita iha ona ema nebe'e kualifikadu, bele hatan ba responsabilidade boot/a'as no ho rendimentu nebe'e diak, duké kontribui fali ba ema husi nasaun seluk nebe'e sei lori sai ita nia osan ba sira nia rai!!

Estadu tenke hanoin investimentu ba tempu naruk!!

Ho ida ne'e, laos katak ita labele aprende lian Português (la taka dalan ba ema ida atu aprende lian barak) maibe tenke tetu didiak vantajem no dezvantajem husi uzu lian ne'e rasik.
Tinan hira nia laran ona ita adopta lian Português iha prosesu aprendizajem no servisu administrasaun públiku. Vantajem saida mak ita hetan husi neba'a? No dezvantajem saida mak ita hetan?
Karik barak liu mak dezvantajem duké nia vantajem mai ita nia ema, iha prosesu aprendizajem, dezempenhamentu servisu no kualidade servisu? Ou ita atu sei nafatin depende ba ajuda husi ema rai liur iha tempu naruk nia laran? 

Ita labele taka tilun no taka matan ba realidade nebe'e iha hodi nafatin obriga ita nia ema uza lian Portugues atu aprende no komunika iha eskola no servisu fatin.

Lian importante ba ema ida atu komunika no aprende hodi dezenvolve nia a'an no kontribui buatruma ba nia nasaun. La taka dalan atu hatene lian oioin, maibe ho aplika lian Português ba uzu iha prosesu aprendijazem no servisu administrasaun públiku "sedu liu" no ita rasik konvida ema estranjeiru atu mai invade ita ho limitasaun/frakeza nebe'e ita iha no ita rasik taka ona dalan mai ita nia ema timor oan atu hakat ba oin, tanba sira labele aprende no komunika ho diak (ho lian Português)!! Karik diak liu mak dezenvolve no uza ita nia lian (bele dezenvolve bazeia ba Tétum INL nebe'e iha ona). Lian Tétum mak ita nia lian!!

Ita nia estadu fo liu importansia no dudu (bele dehan katak "obriga") nia povu atu uza lian Português iha prosesu aprendijazem no iha servisu administrasaun públiku maske konsiente hela katak lian Tétum konsagra ona iha ita nia konstituisaun nudar lian ofisial alémde lian Português.

Nudar timor oan, lolos ita tenke hanoin atu dezenvolve liutan no uza ita nia lian Tétum, tanba ita nia lian mak ita nia identidade. Nudar nasaun ida nebe hamri'ik mesak ona tenke hamri'ik metin no la husik ema ruma atu mai invade tan ita husi forma oioin!!

PS: Ema hotu bele aseita ou la aseita ho hanoin ida ne'e tanba ita moris iha nasaun nebe'e tane a'as diferensias husi hanoin ema idak-idak nian, ho nune’e la taka dalan ba ema ida atu espresa nia hanoin.

Oinsa tuir ita boot sira nia hanoin???