Volunteer probation officers, nongovernmental volunteers commissioned by the Minister of Justice, are assigned to any one of the 904 probation districts that exist across the country (as of April 1, 2002) and are engaged in rehabilitation services under the direction of Regional Parole Boards or the heads of the Probation Offices by helping probation officers while making use of their knowledge on the circumstances in the community and social resources. According to the Volunteer Probation Officer Law, Volunteer probation officers have the mission of supporting the reform and rehabilitation of those who have committed crimes, helping to establish a community without crime and delinquency by striving to enlighten public opinion towards crime prevention, and thereby contributing to individual and public welfare. Volunteer probation officers should meet prescribed requirements. For example, their character and behavior must be socially respected, and they must have the necessary enthusiasm and surplus of time to perform their duties. Volunteer probation officers are not paid a salary, but receive reimbursement for all or part of the actual costs arising in the course of their duties. With a view to improving probationary supervision and other activities that are carried out cooperatively by probation officers and volunteer probation officers, probation offices conduct various forms of training for volunteer probation officers on a regular and planned basis in order to maintain close collaboration with them.
  The Volunteer Probation Officer Law stipulates that the number of volunteer probation officers should not exceed 52,500. As of January 1, 2002, there were 49,003 officers (Source: Rehabilitation Bureau, Ministry of Justice).
  As their organizations, there are Volunteer Probation Officers Associations in each probation district, Federations of Volunteer Probation Officers Associations in each prefecture (except in Hokkaido, where they are based on districts determined by the Ministry of Justice) and Regional Federations of Volunteer Probation Officers in each jurisdiction area of Regional Parole Boards, as well as the National Federation of Volunteer Probation Officers as an incorporated association.
  These volunteer probation officers organizations play an important role in carrying out the following activities: designing plans for crime prevention activities and activities to promote development of social resources; promoting liaison and cooperation regarding the duties of volunteer probation officers (for example, providing volunteer probation officers with information useful for treating offenders, promoting cooperation among volunteer probation officers, liaising and cooperating with related organizations and associations including local governments, etc.); collecting the data and information necessary for volunteer probation officers to perform their duties; carrying out study regarding the duties of volunteer probation officers and presenting opinions; managing training for volunteer probation officers; carrying out public relations concerning volunteer probation officers and their associations; and promoting recruitment of volunteer probation officers.