Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to strengthen support for people with disabilities

Written with extracts translated from Reuters Japan via Kyodo

November 17th 2019

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has decided to strengthen support from the next fiscal year for people with disabilities and senior citizens who repeat crimes due to problems with welfare networks and difficulties in living circumstances. A coordinating council will be established in connection with related organizations such as local welfare facilities and probation offices, as well as local community support centers that connect prisoners to welfare.

The national system in which judicial and welfare co-operates to support the disabled and elderly people with successive crimes started in 2009, but there are still few welfare facilities that will serve as a recipient in 10 years. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare wants to strengthen the network of related organizations in each prefecture and expand the number of recipients.

Approximately 150 million Yen was included in the budget request for next fiscal year as a meeting cost.