A Questionnaire Survey of Drug Offense Prisoners in Japan

• In Event: Lightning Talk: Offending and Predicting Offending

Abstract

The composition of stimulant drug offenders in newly sentenced inmates within the Japanese penal institutions is approximately 26.3 percent, and drug offenders have one of the highest percentages of reimprisonment after release. Accordingly, advancing stimulant drug crime prevention is crucial for Japanese society. A questionnaire survey of sentenced inmates for drug offense in penal institutions was conducted in Japan in 2017. It is founded that there is a negative correlation between drug addiction severity and the age of starting [1] drug abuse and [2] alcohol consumption. Gambling disorder severity has a positive correlation with drug addiction severity. Many stimulant drug inmates started illegal drug abuse in their teenage, repeated drug offenses, and have multiple prison experiences. Our results suggest that it is important to enhance efforts to provide appropriate guidance and support for those in the early stages of the criminal justice process by providing more information and motivating drug offenders so that they can receive treatment and support. The talks address further information on the survey results and suggestions concerning drug addiction treatment.

Authors

• Junichi Ishihara, Ministry of Justice, Japan

• Saori Oida, Ministry of Justice, Japan