Probation officer - Hogoshi

Japanese: 保護司 - ほごし

Probation officers assist in the rehabilitation of those who have been placed on probation under the Juvenile Law, those provisionally discharged from juvenile prisons, those on parole, and those on suspended sentences with probation. They are part-time national civil servants, but are unpaid, with all or part of their actual expenses covered. They provide emotional support to those in rehabilitation, find employment during their stay in penal institutions or juvenile prisons to help them reintegrate into society after their release, and coordinate the environment with their families, schools, and other related parties. They serve as assistants to probation officers at probation offices, but in reality they are often entrusted with most of the tasks. Their term of office is two years, and they can be reappointed. While about 70% of their activities involve juvenile cases, probation officers are aging, so in 2004 a retirement age was introduced that would not allow those over 76 to be reappointed, and a system to secure more officers and younger ones is under consideration. Several cases have led to growing momentum for a review of the probation system, and the basic plan put forward by the government in connection with the Basic Law for Crime Victims, which came into force in April 2005, considers having parole offices and probation officers provide crime victims with information about perpetrators after criminal trials, and conversely, have them act as intermediaries to inform perpetrators of the victim's situation. Their role as actual providers of judicial welfare is becoming increasingly important.

(Shigekazu Nakatani, Associate Professor, Seigakuin University / 2007)

Source : "Chiezo" published by Asahi Shimbun Publications Co., Ltd. About Chiezo

Japanese:

少年法による保護観察処分を受けた者、少年院仮退院者、仮出所者、保護観察付きの執行猶予者などを対象とする保護観察において、対象者の更生を援助する。非常勤国家公務員だが、無給で、実費の全部または一部を支給される。更生を助けるために対象者の心の支えになり、刑事施設や少年院に入所中から退所後の社会復帰のために就労先を探したり、家族や学校、その他関係者との環境調整を図る。保護観察所の保護観察官の補佐的役割にあるが、実際にはそのほとんどを任されている場合も多い。任期は2年で、再任可。活動内容の約7割が少年事件である一方、保護司は高齢化しており、04年に76歳以上を再任しない定年制を導入、定員と若手の保護司を確保する仕組みを検討中。いくつかの事件を契機に保護観察制度の見直しの機運が高まっているが、05年4月施行の犯罪被害者等対策基本法と関連して国が出した基本計画案では、更生保護官署と保護司が刑事裁判後の加害者情報を犯罪被害者に提供し、逆に被害者の状況を加害者に伝える仲介役とすることを検討しており、司法福祉の実質的な担い手としての役割が重要になってきている。

(中谷茂一聖学院大学助教授／ 2007年)

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