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3 Correctional guidance
In addition to work, inmates are provided with guidance for reform and guidance in school courses that are the mainstays of their correctional treatment. Guidance upon commencement of execution of the sentence and guidance prior to release are also provided. These four forms of guidance are collectively called “correctional guidance.”
(1) Guidance upon commencement of execution of the sentence
Guidance upon commencement of execution of the sentence is provided to newly admitted inmates to aid them in understanding the meaning of serving a sentence, the individual treatment goals specified within their treatment guidelines and how to achieve those goals, and rules for life in penal institutions. The term for the guidance in principle is two weeks.
(2) Guidance for reform
Guidance for reform is guidance that aims to make inmates aware of their responsibility for the offenses they committed, foster a sound mind and body, and train them to acquire the knowledge and attitudes necessary to adapt to life in the community. It includes general guidance for reform and special guidance for reform.
General guidance for reform is provided via lectures, gymnastics, events, interviews, consultation and advice, and other methods with the aim of helping inmates to [1] understand their victims’ feelings and have a sense of guilt, [2] lead a regular life with a sound way of thinking, and thereby promote their own mental and physical health, and [3] prepare to map out a new life upon returning to society, and acquire the skills necessary to adapt to society, etc.
Special guidance for reform is provided to inmates who are considered to face difficulty in the course of their reform and rehabilitation or smooth reintegration into society due to certain circumstances, such as a drug dependency or being a Boryokudan member. The following six types of special guidance for reform are being implemented: [1] “guidance for overcoming drug addiction” (prompting inmates to think about concrete ways in which they can avoid using drugs again, after making them understand the problem of their drug use, etc.), [2] “guidance for withdrawal from Boryokudan” (providing guidance, etc. that prompts inmates to realize the anti-social side of Boryokudan in a collaboration with the police, and aiming to foster their will to break away from such groups), [3] “guidance for prevention of repeat offense for sex offenders” (prompting inmates to realize the problems they have that led to the sex offense, and prompting them to learn concrete ways in which they can avoid committing a repeat offense, etc.), [4] “education from the victims’ viewpoints” (prompting inmates to realize the seriousness of their offense and the feelings of their victims, etc., and prompting them to think about how to apologize to them sincerely, etc.), [5] “traffic safety guidance” (prompting inmates to be aware of the responsibility and obligation of being a driver, and prompting them to realize the seriousness of their offense, etc.), and [6] “employment support guidance” (aiming to make inmates learn the basic skills and manners necessary in working life, and enabling concrete efforts toward employment after release, etc.).
(3) Guidance in school courses
Guidance in school courses is guidance equivalent to a school education. It is provided to inmates who are considered to face difficulty in the course of their reform and rehabilitation or smooth reintegration into society due to a lack of the academic abilities necessary in leading a social life, as well as to inmates for whom an enhancement of academic abilities could particularly contribute to their smooth reintegration into society.
Since FY 2007 the Certificate for Students Achieving the Proficiency Level of Upper Secondary School Graduates (high school equivalency examination) has been conducted at four designated penal institutions in cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. In FY 2008, 242 inmates took the examination, with 86 persons passing the Equivalency Examination and 152 persons passing at least one subject (Source: The Lifelong Learning Policy Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology).
(4) Guidance prior to release
Inmates who are about to be released are provided with guidance for two weeks in principle on knowledge that will be necessary in leading a social life immediately after release. Through lectures, personal interviews, and other methods, they are provided with knowledge on employment after release, the social security system and its application procedures, and rehabilitation services, such as the probationary supervision system. In addition, they can be granted, if required, the opportunity to experience daily life quite similar to a normal social life, or actually experience life, labor, and social service activities in society.
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