People reoffending after being released from prison is an ongoing problem. The central and local governments need to proceed with efforts to help former prisoners who have returned to society become self-reliant.
The Justice Ministry has released the 2021 edition of its White Paper on Crime. Of the 20,000 people released in 2019, about 3,000, or 15%, committed crimes again within two years and returned to prison.
Among former prisoners, 38% are back in jail within five years, but the reincarceration rate rises to almost half within 10 years, with 45% returning to prison.
