Environmental adjustment of next abode after release aims to check the planned location through interviews,etc.with a guarantor and make it suitable for rehabilitation of the released inmate.On receiving a case history,which was made when a would-be parolee was imprisoned,from a penal institution,the director of the probation office exercising jurisdiction over his/her next adobe appoints a probation officer or a volunteer probation officer in charge and starts environmental adjustment.
  Cases for environmental adjustment have increased in accordance with an increase of inmates.In2004,environmental adjustment was newly carried out for a total of46,444inmates,up by2.3%from the previous year(Source:Annual Report of Statistics on Rehabilitation).

  Before a regional parole board receives an application for parole,a preparatory parole investigation is conducted with an aim at enhancement of parole examination.For these investigations,parole officers are sent to penal institutions to interview inmates and understand problems for their return to society,as well as to consult with the staff in penal institutions.
  In2004,such investigations were carried out for a total of32,996inmates,down by0.5%from the previous year(Source:Data by the Rehabilitation Bureau,Ministry of Justice).
  To further enhance the preparatory parole investigation,parole officers of regional parole boards are stationed in penal institutions.This resident parole officer system is implemented in10large-scale prisons as of April,2005.

  For long-term inmates of eight years or longer and life imprisonment,the regional boards carry out particularly careful investigations and examinations on their mental and physical conditions,feelings of their victims,and other related matters,and give special consideration on guidance and advice for them and on environmental adjustment of their next abode after release.For example,chief examiners conduct repeated interviews and sometimes more than one examiner perform the interview with them.

  Whether an inmate evinces"genuine repentance",which is the practical requirement for granting parole,is judged by comprehensively considering social sentiment,etc.The feelings of victims are one of the elements for judging social sentiment.The regional boards carry out investigations,where necessary,to gather information on the sentiments of victims or their bereaved families and compensation for damage to victims,and utilize the results as important data in examining the granting of parole.
  Furthermore,there is a system to provide victims,etc.with information on inmates'release(see Part3,Chapter2,Section2-6 ).