White paper on crime 2010 Part7/Chapter3/Section1/3
Many serious offenders get imprisoned for long-term. Long-term inmates have generally committed serious offenses and hence get isolated from society for a long period of time, which gives rise to various difficulties in their smooth reintegration back into society. Therefore, at probation offices, the treatment is provided with consideration given to that.
Probation offices make environmental adjustments for inmates from the early stage of their imprisonment by inspecting their planned post-release abodes and making arrangements to make the post-release environment suitable for their reformation/rehabilitation. In the case of long-term inmates, however, the situations can quite often change over time as it can become increasingly difficult for their families to accept them due to old age or as their planned employment can be canceled. Environmental adjustments are persistently being made in these cases to secure new guarantors or employment in cooperation with their families, local governments, and welfare institutions, etc.
Those sentenced to life or long-term imprisonment (imprisonment for 10 years or more) and granted parole can then face various difficulties in being reintegrated back into society, and hence are positioned at the highest level of the graduated treatment during the first year after their release (See (3) a. of Subsection 2, Section 2, Chapter 5, part 2). They also have multiple probation officers available, if necessary, that frequently interview or visit them in carefully identifying their living situation and ensuring the stability of their lives through enhanced employment support and guidance on a healthy attitude.
In addition, life or long-term imprisoned parolees can find the social situation to have significantly changed during their imprisonment, thus making gradual reintegration back into society the most appropriate in some cases. They are therefore provided with “interim treatment,” if necessary, and with consideration given to their willingness to do so, in which parolees live at halfway houses and are provided with living guidance, etc. by specialized advisers for the first month after being released. Advisors provide guidance on a basic life style, financial management, and ideal interpersonal behavior, etc., while also teaching them the economic and employment situation, how to use transportation, and the procedures to receive public services, etc.