NCJ Number
76251
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Forms and causes of prisoners' grievances in Japanese correctional facilities are discussed.
Abstract
Since the first legal action based on an inmate's complaints in 1954, inmate court action and complaints to prison authorities have steadily increased. Prisoner grievances often take the form of petitions based on Prison Law, according to which inmates may petition to the Minister of Justice or to a visiting prison inspector. The complainants seal the envelopes containing written petitions to the Minister of Justice, and the prison pays postage and refrains from censorship. The Director General of Corrections orders investigations and forwards the results to the Minister of Justice for decisions. During the general prison inspections conducted at least once every 2 years, inmates may also petition inspectors either orally or in writing. Although some inmates prefer to take their complaints to court, the petition system has the advantages of being simple and fast, free to inmates, effective in bringing about changes, and conducive to better supervision from higher authorities. Many grievances are legitimate and concern medical problems, correspondence, visits, education, or living conditions. However, persons who are chronic complainers are responsible for a large portion of the complaints. Other complaints come from convicted political radicals and their followers who regard prisons as part of established power. These persons use the courts to spread propaganda and encourage other inmates to make complaints in order to disrupt the system. Inmate grievances could be reduced through improvement of prison conditions, provision of staff training in treatment techniques and legal issues, and efforts to change the behavior of radical inmates. A reference list is not included. A data table is provided.