Recognizing the dropping age of juvenile offenders and growing crime rates among juveniles, the Thailand government has decided to set up a national child protection system. The objective of the system will be to develop as a database that will help the government devise programs for breaking the cycle of youth crime. Recent research in Thailand has proven that under the current programs most juveniles become repeat offenders instead of moving away from crime and adopting a new life style. Disturbing trends of younger age and longer offender cycle have revealed the need to address the issue of child crime in a different and more effective manner in Thailand. The government has invited various nongovernmental organizations to initiate research that will assist in developing the national child protection system. It aims to be a system for protecting children of all ages. races and nationalities, even those without citizenship and are at the risk of falling victims to traffickers. The current system in Thailand is focussed on providing emergency assistance and does not have sufficient information on children at risk required to formulate programs to address the hazards that they face. The government is beginning to realize that programs that are aimed at prevention are more effective than those aimed at providing the cure after the damage has been done. [Bangkok Post]