While the total number of inmates in prisons is declining, elderly female prisoners are noticeably increasing. Not a few of them return to prison for repeat offenses after being released. What drives the women to commit crimes? Life behind bars can be seen as a microcosm for aging Japan, which leads one to consider what a life is like for the elderly in our long-lived society.
Fukushima Prison Branch is located in Fukushima, a 15-minute drive from JR Fukushima Station. A river runs near the facility, where we arrived through a residential area and fields of apple trees. The facility, which is almost the same size as Tokyo Dome, is one of 11 women's prisons in the nation.
This is, in fact, the second visit to the prison for one of us (Inokuma). The first was in 2009, when I visited upon learning that all the prison staff members received training on dementia. While not many inmates were suffering from dementia at that time, I was surprised to learn that special meals with shredded food were being offered for elderly prisoners. I also heard that many of them returned there after being released. What were things like now? This time we spent two and a half days inside the prison to find out.
According to the white paper on crime released in last November, the number of inmates who were sent to prisons in 2016 was 20,467, the lowest since the end of World War II. Compared to the notably decreasing male incarceration, the figure for women has exceeded 2,000 for 13 consecutive years. The percentage of inmates 65 or older rose to about 18 percent -- the highest rate since 1984.
20% are 65 or older
Shortly after 7:30 a.m., having finished breakfast, the prisoners began making their way to the on-site "factory." Upon an order by a prison officer to move forward, the prisoners in pink work clothes with white hats marched in two rows. Elderly prisoners were noticeable. One group moved at a particularly slow pace -- six of its 12 members were pushing walking aids.
"As the aging of inmates goes on here, the number of prisoners 65 or older is about 90, or more than 20 percent of the whole population of about 400 prisoners. Our oldest prisoner is 89 years old. About 30 people need some kind of assistance, including those with dementia and in wheelchairs. For that reason, prison officers routinely change their diapers and assist in bathing," said Kumi Onishi, a chief supervisor.
Bathing, exercise and other activities are conducted at free moments during the dressmaking and assembly work that are held until the evening at the factory. For prisoners who cannot wash themselves, assistance is provided by prison officers or care workers dispatched to the facility. A prisoner in her 70s suffering from dementia practiced walking for about five minutes before taking a bath. After having her body and hair washed, she returned to work. However, it is said that even easy work such as polishing parts for assembly are difficult for her. Onishi said, "More inmates are physically unable to perform their duties. It is a big challenge to deal with them."
Numerous repeat offenses
Why do these women commit crimes and come to this place, which lacks even air-conditioning?
According to the Justice Ministry, about 80 percent of crimes committed by women fall under theft, such as shoplifting, and violations of the Stimulant Drugs Control Law. Theft accounts for nearly 90 percent of cases involving elderly women, who tend to be repeat offenders.
A woman in her 80s came to the prison last June for stealing items such as eyeglasses and strawberries worth nearly 20,000 yen from a supermarket. She had worked up until her 70s, but had difficulty supporting herself and began stealing foodstuffs like rice on multiple occasions. She lived by herself and was estranged from her child.
When asked about her motive for committing the crimes, she recalled, said, "It was probably because I felt as if I was abandoned by my child and felt lonely."
Another woman in her 70s, who came to the prison last March, started shoplifting in her mid-40s due to stress and financial hardship after getting divorced. She spent time in another facility when she was in her 60s. While on parole, she again stole ingredients for her supper from a supermarket and was sent here.
She said, "I knew it was wrong, but I wanted to save money."
There is a variety of motives for why they commit crimes. A woman in her 70s said, "I wasn't short of money, but I just couldn't forget the thrill I got from stealing things before."
A social worker at the prison said, "In addition to economic insecurity, it seems many people have no place in their families and have low self-esteem."
The woman in her 80s mentioned above is scheduled to be released next year, but said: "Even if I get released, I guess I will only end up watching television alone. I may come to have the idea that it would be better to be here."
Trial and error
"I think many inmates wouldn't have ended up here if there had been more social support like isolation intervention and rebuilding family relationships," said Masayuki Fukuyoshi, the branch's deputy warden.
The prison reviews the diets and exercise regimens for prisoners who need nursing care and allocates personnel for them.
The prison also works with local governments and welfare institutions, among others, to implement measures aimed at preventing repeat offenses, such as helping them find residences, welfare services and jobs following their releases. However, there is a limit to what the prison can do.
When considering one's quality of life, it is best not to be sent to prison. Furthermore, it costs about 3.6 million yen annually to house a single prisoner.
"Women in general are said to have stronger ties to family and community compared to men, but I wonder if this is really the case. While the crime rate for men has been decreasing, the level for women as a whole remains high. The figure for elderly women is particularly high. The reason is yet to be found. The problem continues to be addressed through a process of trial and error at facilities," said Fukuyoshi.
He added, "Because the aging of the population will continue to advance, there is great social importance in investigating the causes and finding preventive measures for these crimes, through cooperation among a variety of fields such as law, welfare, psychiatry and social psychology."
Importance of a social security system
We have the expression: "The century of grandmothers." Even today, women 65 or older account for about 15 percent of the entire population. In Japan, this figure is estimated to exceed 20 percent in 2045.
"An aspect of Japan will significantly change depending on whether they are independent and lively, or poor and lonely," said Keiko Higuchi, president of the nonprofit organization Women's Association for a Better Aging Society.
Higuchi has long warned of "the arrival of the century of poor grandmothers."
She added, "It isn't surprising to hear that there are old women in prison, because, unfortunately, there is a large number of poor elderly women these days. The problem is that poor and lonely elderly women will likely increase in coming years."
The problem of elderly women tends to be less visible than poverty problems for children and single-parent households, but elderly women also have a high risk of poverty.
According to Tokyo Metropolitan University Prof. Aya Abe, one in five Japanese living in poverty is an elderly woman. One of the reasons is considered to be women's lower pensions. It is because women often work for shorter periods due to having babies and raising children as well as working at lower wages. Another reason is that women tend to become single later in life, even if they marry, because they live longer than men. And if they do not own a house or possess a certain level of wealth, they easily fall into poverty.
Women constitute 56 percent of those in nonregular employment, and the percentage of women who never marry is increasing. It is highly possible that more "poor grandmothers" will be coming in the future, too.
In addition to welfare assistance, such as measures designed to rebuild family and community ties, it is necessary to review the employment and social security system to promote individual independence, regardless of gender or marital status.
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