Roujanavong believes that solving the narcotic issues will eventually help to reduce the number of pre-convicted detainees in prisons. IV.Prof. Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, The Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC), the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) question was whether the prison reform includes child offenders? Dato’ Haji Nordin responded that prison reform in Malaysia involves all categories of inmates including children and women, pre-trial detainees and convicted prisoners. The Department of Prison, Malaysia has started to implement the early release of juvenile offenders where they are encouraged to undergo industrial internship which is beneficial for their survival upon release. Attorney Julie in her respond said that child offenders are taken care by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Child offenders are not treated as prisoners as there are activities or programs prepared for them. The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 200642 had established a committee to oversee activities and programs conducted by the DWSD for child offenders. Attorney Julie stressed that different departments catered to different types of prisoners in the Philippines. Mr. Roujanavoung stated that children in juvenile justice system in Thailand is dealt by the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection. According to him, children are easier to be reformed since their number is quite small. There are less than 20,000 juvenile offenders in Thailand. The basic belief is that children commit offences due to the change in their hormones and influence from their surroundings rather than due to a criminal mind. Teenagers will go through the volatility of their hormones and changing of habits until they reach their stability in their growth after 18 years old. Thus, the target of the juvenile justice system in Thailand is to protect and to help juvenile offenders to go through the critical period of their life. V.Mr. Cancio Xavier, Defensoria Publica, Ministry of Justice, Timor Leste had raised a question about how to deal with the lack of financial support, empowerment in justice system and to prevent prisoners from repeating the same offence and returning to the prison as it contributes to overcrowding in the prison? Dato’ Haji Nordin in his respond mentioned that probation must be promoted as an alternative sentencing to imprisonment and should be expanded nationwide in each country. The criminal justice system must be reformed. Through the Malaysian experience with the Compulsory Attendance Order, the recidivism rate is about 0.2% which is lower compared to 15% recidivism rate of imprisonment. Probation helps to address the lack of resources, is halted when an offender jumps the bail or repeats the same offence or ignores the condition laid out by the court over and over or when the court orders no bail to be granted to the offender. 42 Republic Act 9344 23