英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 23, 2009)
Take steps to stop repeat of theft, drug crimes
犯罪白書　窃盗と覚せい剤の再犯を断て（11月23日付・読売社説）

Taking appropriate measures to prevent the repeat of thefts and stimulant-related crimes is an important task when it comes to building a society in which people can live with peace of mind.
　盗みと覚せい剤犯罪を繰り返させない手だてを講じる。我々が安心して生活できる社会にするには、それがポイントの一つといえよう。

This year's white paper on crime, which was released by the Justice Ministry recently, raises the theme of developing measures to prevent repeat offenses. The 2007 white paper also focused on repeat offenses, and since then the ratio of recidivists to the total number of perpetrators of crimes cleared by police or other investigative authorities has been increasing, hitting 42 percent last year.
　法務省がまとめた今年の犯罪白書のテーマは「再犯防止施策の充実」だ。白書は一昨年も「再犯」を取り上げたが、検挙された者のうち、再犯者が占める割合はその後も増え続けている。昨年は４２％に上った。

Taking effective measures to thwart recidivism holds the key to maintaining the country's public safety.
　再犯対策が、日本の治安を維持するかぎを握っている。

The 2009 white paper on crime analyzed the current situation of theft and stimulant-related crimes, whose recidivism rates are particularly high. The analysis found that more than 70 percent of convicts serving prison terms for either of the crimes had previously been jailed for the same crime.
　白書は再犯率が高いとされてきた窃盗と覚せい剤犯罪の現状を分析した。その結果、このどちらかの犯罪で刑務所に再入所した者の７割以上が、前回も同じ罪名で服役しているという実態が浮かび上がった。

The recidivism rate for these crimes is extremely high, compared with other crimes, proving that once people committed theft or stimulant-related crimes, they tend to reoffend.
　他の犯罪に比べ、極めて高い割合である。一度、窃盗と覚せい剤に手を染めると、また同じ罪を犯しやすいことの証左だろう。

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Ex-convicts need jobs

Shoplifting is the most common type of theft. "Lack of income to cover living expenses" was given as the top motive for committing this crime among both male and female offenders. The recidivism rate of perpetrators of theft who had a regular job, meanwhile, tended to be lower than that of part-time workers or unemployed people.
　窃盗の中で最も多いのは万引きだ。盗みを犯す動機としては、男女とも「生活費の困窮」がトップとなっている。定職に就いている人の再犯率が、無職やアルバイトなどの場合と比較して低いという傾向も表れている。

It is vital that the Justice Ministry and Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry cooperate and enhance support for people discharged from prison to help them find a job at Hello Work employment service offices and other places. Though the economic situation is severe, it is indispensable to encourage employers to hire such people.
　法務省と厚生労働省が連携し、ハローワークなどで出所者らへの就労支援策を充実させていくことが肝要である。厳しい経済状況ではあるが、出所者を雇用する事業主の開拓も欠かせない。

The recidivism rate for stimulant-related crimes is also high among unemployed people. It should be noted, however, that the recidivism rate of those who are single and live alone is higher than that of those who are married and live with their family or other relatives even though they work full-time.
　覚せい剤についても、全体としては無職者の再犯率が高い。ただ、注目すべきは、家族などと同居していない単身者の場合には、定職に就いていても再犯率は下がらないということだ。

To prevent repeat stimulant-related offenses, it seems necessary for the people they live with to keep a watchful eye on them. The role of parole officers, who regularly examine urine samples taken from those living alone and check their living situation, is even more important.
　覚せい剤の再犯を防ぐには、就労とともに、同居者の監視の目が必要だということだろう。単身者に対しては、定期的に尿検査を実施したり、生活状況をチェックしたりする保護観察官の役割がより重要である。

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Rehabilitation centers vital

The Justice Ministry is developing self-rehabilitation promotion centers that provide support for released prisoners, whose treatment is often difficult. But opposition from residents has held up plans to develop such centers.
　法務省は、処遇が難しい出所者の受け皿となる自立更生促進センターの整備を進めている。だが、地域住民の反対運動で、整備計画は大幅に遅れている。

In addition to correctional education at prisons, the government should establish a system that would offer educational programs at those centers to teach people who served time in prison for stimulant-related crimes how to stop using stimulant drugs and help them reintegrate into society.
　覚せい剤犯罪で服役した者に対しては、刑務所内での矯正教育だけでなく、こうしたセンターで「脱・覚せい剤」の教育プログラムなどを受けさせ、社会復帰させる体制を整えるべきだろう。

As symbolized by arrests of TV celebrities, the widespread abuse of stimulant drugs is becoming a serious social problem. The Justice Ministry needs to appeal to the public the necessity of operating such centers and win their understanding.
　芸能人が逮捕されるなど、覚せい剤の蔓延(まんえん)は、大きな社会問題となっている。法務省は、センターの必要性を広く訴え、理解を得ていく必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 23, 2009)
（2009年11月23日01時05分 読売新聞）