Educational activities in penal institutions consist of guidance and training at the start of imprisonment,academic education,correspondence courses,and daily life guidance,and orientation to release.Educational activities for inmates are carried out also outside the institution and play a major role in achieving the reform and social rehabilitation of inmates.
Table2-4-3-4 shows the educational activities outside institutions in2004.

Table2-4-3-4  Educational activities outside institutions(2004)

In order for newly imprisoned inmates 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 the treatment they will 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 March2005,six inmates completed these courses and were given certificates of graduation(Source:The 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 High School Equivalency Examinations.
  As of December31,2004,2,730inmates took academic education.Of these,43had not completed compulsory education,1,009had only completed compulsory education,856had dropped out of senior high schools,595had graduated from senior high schools,and227did not fall under any of these categories(Source:The 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 FY2004,2,234inmates took correspondence courses such as bookkeeping,calligraphy,penmanship,English language,computers,and other subjects(Source:The Correction Bureau,Ministry of Justice).

  Daily life guidance is the guidance and training,including consultation and advice,provided to inmates in daily activities.It aims to cultivate a healthy mind and body,nurture their independent and law-abiding spirit,expand their knowledge and attitudes necessary for healthy social life,and cultivate sympathy.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.They are given guidance focusing on solving their problems in adapting themselves to society.In particular,guidance for preventing stimulant drug abuse,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.

  The inmates who are about to be released get information for after-release daily life and probation,and receive guidance and support for residence and livelihood.The inmates released on parole and on expiry of prison term receive the guidance for two weeks and for one week,respectively.Such guidance and support are conducted with the cooperation of related public and private organizations and private volunteers according to the contents.