Vietnam police name parents of unruly teens to boost accountability
Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Phu Tho province police are publicly identifying parents of minors caught causing public disorder to increase parental responsibility.
- This new measure aims to educate and prevent future offenses by holding parents accountable.
- Police emphasize the goal is education, not public shaming, and have seen positive results in deterring youth and engaging parents.
Phu Tho province police in Vietnam are implementing a novel approach to curb public disorder among minors: publicly identifying the parents of offending teenagers. Alongside the names of the young individuals involved in street disturbances, police are also releasing the names and professions of their parents. This initiative aims to bolster parental responsibility for educating and supervising their children.
Recently, Phu Tho police have dealt with numerous cases of teenagers gathering on streets with weapons, causing public disturbances. The new measure, described as a "first-time" application by the authorities, seeks to involve the community in assessing parental accountability. Police officials stated that this is not intended to shame parents but rather to serve as a preventative and educational tool, reinforcing the idea that citizens' reputations are tied to their family's conduct.
Senior Colonel Bui Viet Hung, Deputy Director of the Phu Tho Provincial Police, explained that the decision to publicize parental information was carefully considered and aligns with legal regulations. He stressed that the primary objective is prevention and education, not public humiliation. While acknowledging the significant deterrent effect on the youth, who become aware that their actions are not condoned, the measure also encourages parents to be more involved in their children's upbringing, especially those who work far from home and may be unaware of their children's misbehavior.
Officials from the Criminal Police Department (PC02) of Phu Tho Provincial Police noted that many parents have expressed gratitude for this transparency, as it allows them to address their children's actions promptly. The department emphasized that most offending teenagers are in a developmental stage with limited understanding of the law and are easily influenced by peers. The police's approach balances strict handling of dangerous behaviors with a focus on education to help young people recognize and correct their mistakes, thereby minimizing recidivism.
Nhiแปu gia ฤรฌnh ฤi lร m ฤn xa, con cรกi bแป xแปญ lรฝ vi phแบกm nhฦฐng khรดng nรณi cho cha mแบน biแบฟt. ฤแบฟn khi thรดng tin ฤฦฐแปฃc cรดng khai, nhiแปu ngฦฐแปi ฤรฃ tแปi cแบฃm ฦกn lแปฑc lฦฐแปฃng cรดng an vรฌ giรบp hแป kแปp thแปi biแบฟt viแปc con cรกi ฤรฃ lร m ฤแป cรณ biแปn phรกp giรกo dแปฅc
Originally published by Thanh Niรชn in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.