Characteristics of Repeat Offenders in Japan -Focus on Mental Health and Problem Behavior-

• In Event: Poster Session I

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the characteristics of inmates in Japan. Furthermore, in view of existing evidence that several inmates have poor mental health, the study further focused on factors impacting inmates’ mental health. Through a self-reporting questionnaire, it investigated inmates’ past family problems, the environment in which they were raised, and their interactions with antisocial groups. Moreover, the WHO-SUBI (N = 704) was used to clarify the relation between these factors and the participants’ mental health. The results indicated that 16% of the convicts had suffered violent treatment by their parents and that 20% of them reported having relatives who engaged in problematic behavior. Furthermore, half of the inmates indicated that they needed to reflect on their own lives to improve their health, and about 30% of them stated that they required incentives to reduce their level of psychological exhaustion. A presentation of the details of the study will be given on the appointed day.

Author

• Aika Tomoto, Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba University