Japan’s Ministry of Justice begins five year project concerning how people with intellectual disabilities at Nagasaki Prison can reintegrate into society

From The Fukushi Shimbun via Yahoo! Japan

August 12 2022

This fiscal year, Japan’s Ministry of Justice will begin a five-year model project using about 50 inmates with intellectual disabilities detained at Nagasaki Prison and help them reintegrate into society.

Through individual assessments, the Ministry of Justice will support the acquisition of a rehabilitation certificate while in prison, and provide medium- to long-term support for employment after release.

At an online symposium held on July 30 by the “Foundation of Love to Create an Inclusive Society”, which considers how to support people with disabilities who have been accused of crimes, a model project was held. A high-ranking official of the Ministry of Justice revealed the outline. The model project will be conducted in cooperation with Nanko Airinkai.

It has long been pointed out that there is a high possibility of reoffending if released without support according to the characteristics of the disability.

Since 2009, the government has been building a support system both inside and outside prisons to support social reintegration of inmates who are elderly and have no relatives or who have difficulty finding a place to live or work due to physical or mental disabilities.

In December 2016, the Recidivism Prevention Promotion Act was enacted, and support for elderly and disabled inmates has been developed with the involvement of local governments. The Ministry of Justice wants to organize the know-how at Nagasaki Prison and spread it further.