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  7. People who Support Offender Rehabilitation

People who Support Offender Rehabilitation

For rehabilitation activities such as probation and crime prevention, it is difficult for national organizations alone to have a sufficient effect, and various people called rehabilitation volunteers, such as volunteer probation officers, use their respective characteristics for rehabilitation by actively participating in various activities.

1. Volunteer probation officers
2. Volunteer probation officers’ organizations (volunteer probation officer committee, Federation of Volunteer Probation Officers’ Associations)
3. Offender Rehabilitation facilities
4. Juridical Person for Offender Rehabilitation
5. Women’s Association for Rehabilitation Aid
6. Japan Federation of Big Brothers and Sisters
7. Cooperating employers

Volunteer Probation Officers

Image: Volunteer probation officer activities
Volunteer probation officers are private volunteers who support the recovery of those who committed crimes and delinquencies. They are considered part-time national government officials commissioned by the Minister of Justice based on the Volunteer Probation Officers Act, but they are not paid a salary. Volunteer probation officers take advantage of their flexibility as civilians and the characteristics of their communities. In addition to working with probation officers to conduct probation supervision, they coordinate residences and employment after release and consultation when those who committed crimes and delinquencies return to society from penal institutions or juvenile training schools in order to be able to manage their personal lives smoothly. There are approximately 47,000 volunteer probation officers nationwide.


Volunteer Probation Officer Note
Volunteer Probation Officer System by the Numbers[PDF](Opens in a separate window.)

Volunteer probation officers’ organizations (volunteer probation officer committee, Federation of Volunteer Probation Officers’ Associations)

Volunteer probation officers join the volunteer probation officer committee in the district each is assigned to and performs activities such as training programs, crime prevention activities, liaison coordination with relevant organizations and public relations activities.
In addition, there are Federation of Volunteer Probation Officers' Associations and regional volunteer probation officer federations for each probation office and regional parole board. Furthermore, the National Association for Offenders Rehabilitation Services has been formed as a national group.

Offender Rehabilitation Facilities etc.

Offender rehabilitation facilities and self-reliance support homes are facilities that provide accommodations and food for a certain period of time to those who were released from penal institutions or are on probation with difficulty becoming independent immediately due to having no relatives or living in a place that may impede rehabilitation. In addition to providing accommodations and meals, they also contribute to the prevention of recidivism and delinquencies by providing lifestyle guidance, career guidance and self-reliance support during the protection period.
Offender Rehabilitation Facilities
くろまる Offender Rehabilitation Facilities
Currently, there are 103 offender rehabilitation facilities nationwide, all of which are operated by private non-profit organizations, 100 of which are operated by an offender rehabilitation corporation that operates a rehabilitation project with the approval of the Minister of Justice. The other three facilities are operated by a social welfare corporation, an NPO corporation, and a general incorporated association.
In offender rehabilitation facilities, according to the actual situation, efforts to enhance treatment are conducted. For example, social skills training (SST) is carried out to improve interpersonal relationships, and educational programs are carried out to improve problems related to drinking and stimulant use. In addition, interacting with local residents is important.
Furthermore, designated facilities also conduct activities that focus on recovery from addiction of controlled substances, and they connect those with particular difficulty living independently, whether from old age or disability, to welfare support.
Please see the following for details.
Securing Residences for Released Prisoners with Nowhere to Go ~Role of Offender Rehabilitation Facilities
What are offender rehabilitation facilities?

くろまる Self-Reliance Support Homes
These homes promote independence by making use of the respective characteristics of NPOs. Before being permitted to provide such services, the NPOs must register in advance with probation offices. There are various kinds of facilities, and there are places where people live in groups, and there are also single apartments. The staff of these homes perform daily life guidance every day.
Please see the following for details.
Securing Residences for Released Prisoners with Nowhere to Go ~Role of Offender Rehabilitation Facilities
Urgent housing security and self-reliance measures

Juridical person for offenders corporations

Juridical person for offenders corporations are private-sector entities that operate offenders rehabilitation services with the approval of the Minister of Justice based on the Offenders Rehabilitation Services Act. These corporations offer accommodation to those that need such support, find residences, offer loans and life counseling, provide assistance to businesses aimed at helping rehabilitate those who have committed crimes, liaise and coordinate, and conduct awareness-raising activities for these services. →Tax system for offender rehabilitation organizations

Women’s Association for Rehabilitation Aid

Image: Women’s Association
for Rehabilitation Aid activities
更生保護女性会バッジ
In addition to awareness activities for preventing crime and delinquency in communities, the Women’s Association for Rehabilitation Aid is a volunteer organization that aims to help with the healthy development of young people and to support the improvement and rehabilitation of those who have committed crimes and delinquencies. There are about 170,000 people nationwide, and in addition to holding small gatherings to discuss delinquency problems in the community and asking community residents to visit local community centers and schools, the association conducts activities such as events for parents and children and child-care support.
Any woman who agrees with the purpose of the association can participate. If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact your local probation office.

Japan Federation of Big Brothers and Sisters

Image: BBS activities
BBS会シンボルマーク
The Japan Federation of Big Brothers and Sisters (BBS) is a youth volunteer group that aims to achieve communities without crime and delinquency. Through mentoring, the organization support youths to interact with individuals who as like big brothers and sisters, encouraging sound development of the youth and teaching problem-solving skills. There are approximately 4,500 members nationwide.
In recent years, they conduct learning support activities in child welfare institutions and events with children in child welfare residential facilities.
Anyone who supports the purpose of BBS who is sincere and has enthusiasm can participate. If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact your local probation office.

Cooperating Employers

Image: Cooperating employers
Cooperating employers are private businesses who hire released prisoners who cannot easily find stable jobs due to their criminal histories or past delinquencies. The continued support of cooperating employers is important to offender rehabilitation.
Currently, there are around 20,000 cooperating employers nationwide. Probation offices are looking for cooperating employers to further promote employment support for those who have committed crimes and delinquencies.

Click here for information about the recruitment of cooperating employers→We are looking for cooperating employers.
Click here for information about employment support for released prisoners→Employment Support in Offenders Rehabilitation

(Reference)
Pamphlet on Cooperating Employers [PDF] (Opens in a separate window.)

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