?Escape to prison... What is the secret of the large number of crimes among the elderly in Japan
It is natural that every elderly society in the world faces unique challenges, but in Japan the matter is different, as the government is dealing with a challenge that it had not anticipated: crimes against the elderly. The number of elderly prisoners in Japan is increasing significantly. Some elderly people facing difficult living conditions deliberately break the law on repeated occasions in order to obtain a prison sentence.
The high proportion of elderly prisoners in Japan reflects changes in criminal trends and the composition of the prison population over the years. In the past, it was assumed that older age groups were largely past the crime stage. However, over time, the proportion of elderly prisoners in Japanese prisons has increased.
In 1976, prisoners over the age of 60 constituted only 2.5% of the total prison population. But in 2017, this category represented 18.3% of the total prison population. There are several factors that may indicate this change, such as shifts in social and economic dynamics, and rising crime rates in some age groups.
This shift could have implications for criminal policies and the criminal justice system in an effort to understand and address these changing dynamics in Japanese society.
Statistics indicate that theft represents one of the most common crimes committed among the elderly in Japanese prisons, especially among elderly women, as it constitutes a high percentage of the crimes they commit. The aforementioned percentage (88.4%) indicates the predominance of theft among major crimes against women.
This superiority may reflect a complex social reality linked to the poverty and life difficulties facing some of these older prisoners. Repeated involvement in theft crimes could be a result of difficult economic conditions and the need to ensure basic livelihoods once released. Some people may view prison as a social “safe haven” that provides food and housing, and this reflects the economic and social challenges faced by some individuals in society.
The presence of an increasing number of elderly prisoners, especially those with signs of dementia, is a major challenge for Japan's prison system. Dealing with older prisoners and those with health problems such as dementia requires special attention tailored to their needs.
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Justice in 2015, there are about 1,300 prisoners in Japan aged 60 or older who show signs of dementia. Prison authorities stated that the burden placed on penal institutions is increasing with the increase in the number of elderly prisoners due to factors such as the need to provide living assistance and easily digestible food in the form of paste on a daily basis. Starting from the fiscal year 2019, a simple examination for senile dementia will be conducted for any prisoner aged 60 or over, and those who show signs of this disease will be examined by a medical doctor. The goal is to detect these symptoms at an early stage and provide treatment so that the person can return to normal society immediately after his release from prison.
Source: websites