In regard to the recent crime trend in Japan, the number of reported cases for non-traffic penal code offenses reached the largest peak in 2002 since World War II, and has since declined over the last four consecutive years. In addition, the number of reported cases for non-traffic penal code offenses, excluding theft, increased up until 2004 but then decreased for the next two consecutive years. Both those downward trends have continued until now, but have still remained at relatively high levels when compared to the long term crime trends in Japan (see Part 1, Chapter 1).
  Offenders can be divided into two categories based upon criminal history, which are (a) offenders who commit a crime just once in their lifetimes (hereinafter referred to as “non-repeat offenders”) and (b) offenders who repeatedly commit crimes (hereinafter referred to as “repeat offenders”). One of the major factors behind the current crime trend in Japan is the prevalence of repeat offenders. Upon comparing crimes committed by non-repeat offenders with those of repeat offenders, although the number of repeat offenders is smaller than that of non-repeat offenders, the number of crimes committed by repeat offenders is much greater. Therefore, repeat offenders inflict far greater damage on society than non-repeat offenders, which has been confirmed by a variety of research and studies, both domestically and internationally.
  Preventing recidivism, therefore, has long been one of the central issues in criminal justice policy. Countermeasures to crime can be divided into crime prevention and prevention of recidivism. A number of measures have been taken to prevent recidivism in Europe, North America and Australia.
  We believe that, in order to tackle these problems, a variety of new approaches will need to be introduced and implemented in the field of criminal justice.