Section 3 Volunteer Probation Officers and Halfway Houses
1 Volunteer probation officers
VPOs are volunteers who support rehabilitation of offenders and delinquents in local communities. Commissioned by the Minister of Justice pursuant to the Volunteer Probation Officers Act (Act No. 204 of 1950), they implement probation/parole supervision and adjustment of living conditions in cooperation with probation officers, and engage in crime prevention activities, etc. in partnership with local governments.
VPOs are assigned to one of 886 probation districts (as of April 1, 2022) nationwide (Source: the Rehabilitation Bureau, Ministry of Justice). VPOs are part-time national public officials.
Fig. 2-5-3-1 shows the trend in the number of VPOs, their average age, and percentage of female VPOs.
Fig. 2-5-3-1 VPOs: number, percentage of females and average age
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Fig. 2-5-3-2 shows the composition by age group and occupation of VPOs as of January 1, 2022.
Fig. 2-5-3-2 VPOs: composition by age group and occupation
