Prisons as retirement homes for low-income seniors in Japan
Japan is seeing a rise in elderly people committing minor crimes to gain shelter, food, and medical care in prisons. This trend has transformed some penitentiaries into facilities more focused on social support and rehabilitation than punishment. Experts warn this reflects a broader social problem: communities failing to provide adequate care for older adults.
At Fukushima Prison, inmates aged 65 and older receive specialized care. Staff help those with walkers or other physical difficulties, and workshops, education, and late-life learning are used to keep them active. The prison recently abolished mandatory labor to focus more on rehabilitation, reducing the risk of repeat offenses.
Statistics show that in 2024, 13.5% of Japan’s inmates were over 65, with many committing petty crimes like shoplifting. Japan’s population is aging rapidly, with nearly 30% of citizens aged 65 or older, and many elderly people living alone or on insufficient pensions. Isolation and lack of support are contributing to the problem.
Some elderly inmates, like a 67-year-old at Fukushima Prison, describe prison as a positive place where they can learn, socialize, and live safely. Many do not want to return to society because they fear causing harm again or lack sufficient support outside prison. Analysts describe this as a failure of Japan’s welfare system.
Maintaining elderly prisoners is expensive, costing tens of thousands of dollars per year per inmate. In contrast, pensions for many older adults are low, making independent living difficult. Prisons have become, in effect, a substitute for social services for vulnerable elderly citizens.
Source : https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-02-04/prisons-as-retirement-homes-for-low-income-seniors-in-japan.html |
