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Community-Based Treatment of Offenders in Japan

NCJ Number
86763
Date Published
1981
Length
66 pages
Annotation
This overview of community-based correctional services in Japan covers their history, related laws, organization, use of volunteers, effectiveness, and costs.
Abstract
This report describes the drastic reorganization of the rehabilitation services for adults and juveniles which occurred since 1949 and the basic statutes now governing these programs. It then outlines the functions of the agencies involved in rehabilitation services: the Rehabilitation Bureau, the National Offenders Rehabilitation Commission, the Regional Parole Board, and the Probation Office. Qualifications and training for probation officers engaged in offenders' supervision and aftercare are reviewed. Volunteers supervise and assist parolees, make prerelease reports based on visits to prisoners' homes, conduct preliminary investigations for pardons, and assists offenders' families. The paper presents information on criteria for volunteers as well as their personal characteristics. Also described are halfway houses and private organizations which assist rehabilitation efforts. The discussion of probation and parole addresses categories of eligible offenders, procedures, conditions, supervision, financial aid, and termination. It examines the effectiveness of these programs and their costs. Other activities considered include aftercare services, pardons, crime prevention, research, and Japanese publications in the field of rehabilitation services. Statistical tables are provided.