Educational activities in penal institutions consist of guidance and training on start of imprisonment,subsequent academic education,correspondence courses,and daily life guidance,and orientation to release.Educational activities for inmates are carried out also outside an institution and play a major role in achieving the reform and social rehabilitation of inmates.
  Table 2-4-3-4 shows the educational activities outside institutions in2003.

Table 2-4-3-4 Educational activities outside institutions(2003)

  In order for those inmates newly imprisoned to start their prison life smoothly,guidance and training are provided to help them understand the proper way of living and behaving inside the institution and contents of their treatment to receive.The period is generally around14days.

  Academic education is geared toward those inmates who have not completed compulsory education or who have low academic ability despite having completed compulsory education,and includes lessons or supplementary lessons in Japanese language,mathematics,social studies and other necessary subjects.
  At Matsumoto Juvenile Prison,a branch of a local junior high school is set up for those eligible inmates from all over the country who have not completed compulsory education.In March2004,six inmates completed these courses and were given certificates of graduation(Source:Data by Correction Bureau,Ministry of Justice).At Morioka,Matsumoto,and Nara Juvenile Prisons,correspondence courses of senior high schools are provided with the cooperation of local public schools.Further,Kawagoe Juvenile Prison and several other prisons teach those inmates who wish to go to university and help them take the University Entrance Qualification Examinations.
  In2003,4,920inmates took academic education.Of these,612had not completed compulsory education,2,461had only completed compulsory education,856had dropped out of senior high schools,and668had graduated from senior high schools(Source:Data by Correction Bureau,Ministry of Justice).

  Correspondence courses are provided to improve inmates'general education as well as their vocational knowledge and skills.Participants are divided into publicly financed students,for whom the state covers all costs needed,and self-financing students.
  In FY2003,3,132inmates took correspondence courses such as bookkeeping,calligraphy,penmanship,English language,computers,and other subjects(Source:Data by Correction Bureau,Ministry of Justice).

  Daily life guidance is the guidance and training,including consultation and advice,provided to inmates in daily activities,to cultivate their healthy mind and body,nurture their independent and law-abiding spirit,grow their knowledge and attitudes necessary for healthy social life,and enrich their sound sentiment.Club activities,various meetings,lectures,reading guidance,and counseling are in practice.In addition to them,guidance for specified types of inmates have been carried out,in which inmates are grouped based on their offenses,their attitude that led them to criminal behavior,and the factors that impede their social rehabilitation,and are given guidance on specified topics.In particular,guidance for preventing stimulant drug abuse is conducted in nearly all institutions.Also education on alcohol abuse,guidance for withdrawal from organized crime groups,and traffic safety guidance etc.are conducted through lectures,group discussions,and group counseling etc.

  For the inmates who are about to be released,information necessary for daily life immediately after their release and information on parole and rehabilitation services available are given,and guidance and support necessary to return home and to make their livings are provided.Such guidance and support are conducted in a planned and organized manner that suits individual inmates,with the cooperation of public and private organizations and volunteers outside penal institutions.
  The period of guidance and support prior to release is,in principle,two weeks for those inmates on parole release and one week for those whose release is on completion of their sentences.