Japanese Prisons

            After World War II, secrets leaked out explaining that the Japanese and Nazis were conducting experiments on their enemies and their prison population to determine whether or not their weapons were effective.  Decades later, Japanese Prison System still resembles the harsh discipline that was endured during WWII. Prisons inmates from Fuchu, Fokuoka, and Nagoya Prison can all offer testimony of their turmoil and torment inside the prison, resembling the prisons of third world countries. According to the Department of State, Japanese prisons resemble a militaristic style of control to achieve safety for inmates and staff (2011). Western and Eastern Prison practices differ, considering our staff unions and OSHA standards, Western practices are more lenient on inmates than those placed on Japanese inmates. 

            The western approach towards inmates is punishment, while the Japanese Criminal Justice System is focused more on civil order (Hill, 2009). Hill (2009), gives one great example where police enforce forgiveness statements instead of incarceration, to make the citizen feel at peace. Japan has a low incarceration rate, 63 per 100,000 compared to 750 per 100,000 in the US (Reutter, 2010). The prison population is low, as well as the cost per inmate to incarcerate. On average, it cost approximately $14.50 per day to house an inmate in Fuchu Prison, one of the largest prisons in Japan (Hill, 2009). In the United States it cost around $135 dollars per day to house an inmate.  Unlike American Prisons, Japanese prisons impose strict military discipline to maintain the safety and security of both staff and inmates (USDS, 2011).  Due to the harsh regulations, staff can have complete control of the prisons and its prisoners (USDS, 2011).  Inmates are told how to sit, walk, eat, sleep, talk, and bow. Those who incorrectly conduct movements are punished (USDS, 2011).

            The public face of Japanese prisons is kept to impress the public and prove that the system used is effective and constructive. ABC Australia (2008), argued that the truth behind what really goes on behind Japanese prison is kept secret and is closely guarded. Strict and unnecessary punishments are enforced on inmates who break the rules. Some unbearable conditions are said to exist behind prison walls including unsanitary solitary confinement cells, low medical attention, and death causing incidents controlled by the staff ( ABC, 2008). Terrance Sheard was incarcerated in Fuchu Prison and transferred to an American prison in 2005. He described the conditions of Fuchu prison, as horrific, unbearable, and disgusting (Sheard, 2005).  He argued that Fuchu prison was inhumane, and tortured him by making him sit in his cell, facing the door for long periods of time (Sheard, 2005). 

            There are two arguments presented, one argues that the system is effective while the other argues that Japanese Prisons are cruel and inhumane. The strongest argument would be the fact that Japanese Prisons are effective in controlling violence inside prisons by using strict military enforcement. The military style of discipline is used to break down old behaviors of inmates and initiate to cooperation among inmates (USDS, 2011).  Inmates sleep in cells with up to 8 inmates, which is not a custom of Western practices. There is no strong evidence to indicate that Japanese prisons are disease infested, unsanitary, cruel, inhumane, or secretive. The only information available to indicate that Japanese prisons are inhumane is testimony by inmates who were released from such prisons.

            In Western practices, prisons don’t have military style discipline, which may be one reason why some prisons are run by Security Threat Groups. Considering that the cost is much less in Japanese prisons and they are still able to offer vocational and educational programs, Western prisons need to come up with new solutions to save money. With response to the treatment inside prisons, no real proof has been established that such conditions exist. Only single incidents reports of Staff assaults on inmates have been accounted for which is almost any prison around the world (ABC, 2008).

References

ABC Australia. (2008).  January 8, 2008. “Harsh Justice, Japan”. Australia.:

Journeyman Pictures.

Hill, Gary. (2009). Japan’s Correction Bureau. Corrections Compendium. Criminal

Justice Periodicals. 4(34), 36.

Reutter, David M., (2010). Over 10 Million In Prison Worldwide. Prison Legal News.

2(4), 59.

Sheard, Terrance D., (2005). Release From A Japanese Prison. Foreign Prisoner

Support Service, Save a Life. Los Angeles, CA. Mar 11, 2011.

United States Department of State. USDS (2011) Mar 3. Fuchu Prison. Embassy Of

             the United States. Tokyo, Japan. 

                                           Cell Block No interaction between inmates