Probation Department Welcomes International Visitor

SAN BERNARDINO>> San Bernardino County Chief Probation Officer Michelle Scray Brown welcomed Young-Jun Kim with the Daejeon Probation and Parole Office of South Korea, officially known as the republic of Korea. For the next six months, the probation department will host Kim as he conducts research in the identification and effective treatment of alcoholism, as it relates to the criminal justice system. Kim was recently selected as one of the official trainees for an overseas research fellowship program sponsored by the Korean government. This program offers government officials the opportunity to get cutting-edge knowledge and job related experience by dispatching them to international organizations, universities or agencies. He will be job shadowing units within the department and conducting research from October through March. The purpose of his study is to research the effective treatment of alcoholism in another country. Kim said there is a general acceptance of the drinking problem in Korea and, according to 2014 statistics, alcohol-related offenses account for 32 percent of the country’s crimes. The seriousness of these alcohol-related crimes has risen and Korea introduced a court-ordered treatment system last year. “I heard that the system of your country is very effective," Kim said in a letter to the probation department. "I am confident that it would be an invaluable experience for me and the result of my research will be reflected in the establishment of Korean criminal justice policy." During his visit, Kim plans to tour probation offices, treatment courts and alcoholism treatment facilities, conduct interviews, attend seminars and document his results. A San Bernardino County Probation Officer fluent in the Korean language will assist as a translator to make his stay as educational as possible.