刑務所への接触が施設や出所者への態度に及ぼす影響

──PFI刑務所開設地域の分析──

抄録

Enhancing recidivism prevention is hindered by the challenge of mitigating bias against formerly incarcerated individuals in Japan, based on insufficient comprehension. A survey was conducted among residents living near two recently established correctional facilities that prioritize community collaboration (PFI prisons). The study examined the impact of interactions with correctional facilities on residents’ trust in the management system and their receptivity towards formerly incarcerated individuals (analysis participants: N = 1,782). Structural equation modeling showed that contact with prisons increased trust in the correctional system, moderated by residents’ perception and evaluation of community development. The establishment of trust heightened acceptance of formerly incarcerated individuals while reducing prison resistance. The finding suggests that building trust in correctional institutions is essential for improving the public’s understanding and support for the social reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals. Furthermore, the presence of friends and family members who are privately employed or volunteers at the prison was found to foster residents’ perception of community development and the prison’s contribution to it. A collaborative system between government employees and residents served to create extended contact.