Section 1  Parole

  The parole system aims to promote smooth social reintegration of those inmates sentenced to imprisonment with or without work who evinces “genuine repentance” and are expected to rehabilitate themselves successfully by releasing them before their sentence completion and putting them on parole supervision for the rest of their imprisonment term.
  Parole may be granted to an inmate sentenced to imprisonment with or without work, after serving the statutory term, i.e. 1/3rd of the definite term of the sentence or 10 years of a life sentence under Article 28 of the Penal Code (see Part 4, Chapter 2, Section 1, 4 (3) for special provisions under the Juvenile Act). The following four items have conventionally been used in judge whether “genuine repentance” has taken place: (1) signs of remorse for their offense, (2) willingness to reform, (3) not likely to reoffend, and (4) the general sentiment of society is approval for parole being granted. Parole is only granted after that criteria have been deemed reasonably satisfied, with inmates being paroled with supervision of their reformation and rehabilitation. At the same time as the Offenders Rehabilitation Act was enforced the judgment criteria was clarified. With the new criteria the following three items are judged: (1) shows signs of remorse for their offense and a willingness to reform and rehabilitate themselves, (2) shows no likelihood of reoffending, and (3) it is deemed reasonable to parole them with supervision of their reformation and rehabilitation. The parole of inmates meeting those criteria is finally judged by confirming (4) whether the general sentiment of society is approval for them being granted parole. In addition, a system where the opinions, etc. of victims, etc. are heard before parole is granted has been enforced since December 1, 2007 (see Part 5, Chapter 2, Section 1).
  Probation offices exercising jurisdiction over inmates' next abode after release implement environmental adjustment (improved as “adjustment of living environment” by the enforcement of the Offenders Rehabilitation Act). On receiving a case history of an inmate from a penal institution, a probation officer or a volunteer probation officer in charge checks the planned location through interviews with a guarantor for making the environment suitable for rehabilitation of the released inmate.
  Cases for environmental adjustment have increased in accordance with an increase of inmates, but decreased in 2007. In 2007, environmental adjustment was newly carried out for a total of 46,823 inmates (down by 3.6% from the previous year) (Source: Annual Report of Statistics on Rehabilitation).