Japanese prisons prepare for imprisonment penalty reform

Japan is set to expand access to 24 new correctional courses in prisons and other facilities as part of a major overhaul of incarceration laws on June 1. The revised system, which eliminates punitive labor duties for some offenders, aims to shift the focus of incarceration from punishment to prevention of repeat offenses, marking a significant change since Japan’s Penal Code was established over a century ago. The new measures also emphasize taking into account individual characteristics of inmates in designing personalized rehabilitation programs.