NCJ Number
166120
Date Published
1996
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Four studies were sponsored by the Criminological Research Department of Japan's Ministry of Justice to investigate characteristics and changes in attitudes of long-term prisoners convicted of serious offenses, offenders on suspended sentences with probation supervision who used drugs, factors affecting sentences for serious offenses, and the impact of offenses of persons sentenced to life imprisonment on victim families.
Abstract
The first study was conducted to obtain information on the treatment and reintegration into society of long-term prisoners convicted of serious offenses. The sample consisted of male prisoners convicted of arson, rape, homicide, and/or robbery who were sentenced to more than 8 years in custody. These prisoners had various adjustment patterns to the prison environment. Prisoners with a greater inclination toward crime tended to be the least responsive to treatment. The second study examined the characteristics of 322 drug-using offenders who were serving suspended sentences with probation supervision. Those who made the least progress under treatment on probation tended to have previous experience with probation supervision, juvenile training schools, and/or inhalant drug abuse. Probationers who had continuous problems tended to be less susceptible to treatment. The third study evaluated characteristics of both offenders and victims in relation to sentences. The analysis involved 152 homicides and 297 robberies resulting in death for which a capital or a life sentence was imposed. Most convicted murderers were convicted of multiple murders, whereas 90 percent of those convicted of robbery were responsible for only one death. Almost all members of bereaved families thought offenders should be sentenced to capital punishment. Thirty percent of murderers who killed two or more victims were sentenced to capital punishment. In contrast, 73 percent of offenders whose robbery resulted in the death of two or more victims received a capital sentence. Judges were generally reluctant to sentence offenders to capital punishment and did so only in cases where there was an overriding judicial precedent. The fourth study examined the impact of victim deaths on families in cases where offenders were sentenced to life imprisonment, based on trial records of 382 violent offenses. The most obvious and widespread negative influence of violent crimes on bereaved families involved a worsening of relations with neighbors. Economic effects were most severe in cases where women lost their husbands. Over 50 percent of bereaved families, especially partners and children of victims, felt the psychological impact of the death was more severe than any economic problems caused. Attitudes of families toward offenders became less severe in cases where compensation was received.