(1)Types of parole
  Parole is the general name for a system whereby inmates of correctional institutions are released with probationary supervision under certain conditions before the completion of their term of confinement, and are given the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves and make a smooth return to society.   Parole takes one of the following forms.
[1]Parole of inmates sentenced to imprisonment with or without labor
[2]Parole of detainees and work house detainees
[3]Provisional release of juveniles in juvenile training schools
[4]Provisional release of women in women's guidance homes
(2)Examinations for parole
  The authority to decide whether or not to grant parole lies in the Regional Parole Boards, of which there are 8 around the country. Regional Parole Boards are councils consisting of 3 to 12 board members. They normally start the process of parole examinations based on applications from the wardens of correctional institutions. The actual examination is entrusted to a nominated member(referred to throughout this Chapter as"chief examiner"). In principle, the chief examiner interviews the parole applicant and examines issues such as (1) whether or not parole is appropriate, (2) the timing of parole, and (3) special conditions that must be observed during the parole period. Based on the results, a decision whether to grant parole is made following deliberation by the council. In 1999, chief examiners personally interviewed 16,261 persons in correctional institutions (13,108 inmates and 3,153 juvenile training school detainees) (source:Rehabilitation Bureau, Ministry of Justice).
  In the remainder of this Section, we will give an overview of the state of parole, concentrating mainly on parole for prison inmates(see Part 3, Chapter 2, Section 6 for details of provisional release from juvenile training schools).
(3)Conditions of parole
  Parole is granted to inmates serving sentences with or without labor who show signs of remorse, after the passage of the following statutory periods.
[1]One-third of determinate sentence.
[2]Ten years of life sentence.
[3]If the offender was sentenced to imprisonment with or without labor while still a juvenile, 7 years of a life sentence, 3 years of a determinate sentence between 10 and 15 years if the original offense was committed before the age of 18, and a third of the minimum term of an indeterminate sentence.
  The judgement as to whether offenders"show signs of remorse"results from a combined judgement that (1) signs of remorse can be recognized, (2) a willingness to reform can be recognized, (3) no likelihood of repeat offense can be recognized, and (4) it can be recognized that social sentiment will be in favor of parole. Parole is finally granted when it can be recognized that putting the offender on probation would be appropriate for the reform and rehabilitation of the offender.