The operations of penal institutions, in particular, educational activities, are carried out with support and cooperation from volunteers in the nongovernmental sectors, including volunteer visitors for inmates and prison chaplains.

  Voluntary visits for inmates intend to resolve each inmate's worries as well as practical troubles about their families, jobs and future life plans, and other problems with advice and guidance by nongovernmental volunteer visitors for inmates. These visits are now firmly established as an important means of treatment. Volunteer visitors for inmates are qualified or experienced individuals, religious persons, persons concerned with rehabilitation, who are recommended by the wardens of correctional institutions and commissioned by the Superintendents of Regional Correction Headquarters. They serve for 2 years and may be re-appointed.
  As of December 31, 2001, there were 1,173 volunteer visitors for inmates, of whom 199 were specialized in literary arts, 200 in education, 161 in religion, 137 in rehabilitation, 88 in law (legal profession), 73 in trade and commerce, and 37 in social welfare, etc. In 2001, a total of 15,103 voluntary visits for inmates were made, of which 4,993 were concerned with education, 3,583 with hobbies, and 1,511 with mental worries (Source: Correction Bureau, Ministry of Justice).
  To enhance voluntary visit activities, the National Federation of Volunteer Visitors for Inmates has been established as a nationwide organization of such committees.

  Religious instructions are given, at the request of inmates who have religious beliefs, those who seek a religion, and those who have an interest in religion, by nongovernmental religious volunteers (called "prison chaplains"). These instructions include religious lectures, religious rites and reading of sutras, etc. They are aimed at providing inmates with opportunities to satisfy their religious needs while ensuring their religious freedom.
  As of December 31, 2001, there were 1,504 prison chaplains, and they gave religious services 9,128 times collectively and 6,515 times individually (Source: Correction Bureau, Ministry of Justice).
  The National Federation of Prison Chaplains has been established as a national organization of chaplains.