A Criminological View on How the Care Should Function in the Community

Volunteer Probation Officers in Japan

Abstract

Volunteer probation officers (VPOs) in Japan support ex-offender resettlements through comprehensive care. VPOs have the advantage of being non-professional citizen who live in the community.

Recently, public advertisement for probation system in Japan emphasized ex-offendersʼ “vulnerabilities”, such as poverty, sickness and social exclusion. Such advertisements may cause not only empathy but also backrush from other community members, who also experience these vulnerabilities.

Nevertheless, the fact that VPOs help ex-offenders in the community voluntarily demonstrates the importance of ex-offender resettlement. Furthermore, that is also the value of VPOʼs care. That contributes to the development of community social work.

VPOs live in communities including rural areas, though “experts” in care or therapy prefer to work in the cities. Clarifying how “experts” can live and work in the community as VPOs do will be valuable in making the community more inclusive.