Rising crime in senior citizens plagues Japanese prisons

The reoffending rate for the over-65s was more than 23 per cent among the over-65s
The reoffending rate for the over-65s was more than 23 per cent among the over-65s
BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Japan has long grappled with the challenges posed by its ageing population but it can now add criminal reoffending to the list.

Almost a quarter of senior citizens released from jail are back in prison within two years — higher than the figure across all age groups — and rising, according to newly released officials figures.

The reoffending rate was more than 23 per cent among the over-65s — reflecting an increase of nearly 3 percentage points since the previous annual white paper on crime. Across all inmate groups it was 18 per cent.

“The rate for the elderly has been consistently high, compared with other age groups, reducing the impacts of efforts to lower the overall rate,” a justice ministry official told the Jiji