Tracking sex-crime offenders

性犯罪者の再犯防止策

    The system represents a step in the right direction, although details have yet to be worked out. There is serious concern, however, that unless it is strictly managed the system could deter the rehabilitation of released convicts and violate their human rights. That is why justice and police authorities must share only residential information and use it for internal purposes.

    The kidnap-murder of a 7-year-old schoolgirl in Nara City in November has focused attention on the problem of sex-crime recidivism. The accused perpetrator, who was arrested in December, turned out to be a 36-year-old man who had been jailed twice for molesting young girls. The NPA responded quickly, calling for stronger action to address the problem.

    Public opinion in Japan is shifting decidedly in favor of tougher measures to prevent the recurrence of vicious sex crimes. Criminal law has been tightened to raise the minimum prison term for rape to three years from two years and to establish the new crime of gang rape.

    Keeping tabs on where former sex offenders live is a practical step to prevent relapses — a step that officials say will require no legislative action. Still, the sharing of their residential information by law-enforcement authorities presents a number of potential problems. One is the possibility of overreaction.

    A "high" rate of sex-crime recidivism is said to be justification for tracking ex-convicts. According to the latest crime white paper, though, the rate in 2003 was 8 percent for rapes and 11 percent for indecent assaults — far lower than the recidivism rate for injurious assaults and extortions (20 percent each) and for thefts (18 percent).

    Privacy violations are another risk. A convicted sex offender, once he is released from prison upon completing his term, is entitled to privacy protection. Law-enforcement authorities will do him a gross injustice if they continue to treat him as if he were a criminal.

    Another possibility is that the tracking system may hinder the process of rehabilitation and re-employment. In-house correctional programs will offer little motivation unless convicts can hope to start a new life after leaving prison. Expectations of social isolation would not only dash that hope but dampen the desire for self-help.

    Moreover, "following" convicts after their release could affect the lives of their family members who have nothing to do with their criminal cases.

    Beyond that, the question of which convicts should be covered must be addressed. The diversity of sex crimes, ranging from light offenses (groping, stealing underwear) to serious offenses (rape, indecent assault, child prostitution), makes it difficult to draw a clear-cut line.

    Other difficult questions remain. Should the system apply only to released convicts? And should they include convicts on probation? What about minors? The inclusion of juvenile offenders as well as adults convicted of minor offenses could end up causing more harm than good.

    In some countries, including the United States, authorities are required by law to register the names and addresses of sex offenders and publish these records for the benefit of local residents. This system, however, has been criticized for violating privacy, so its effectiveness is held in doubt. Japan ought to be careful about introducing it.

    The NPA is considering a system that would enable police to keep track of released convicts' addresses on a long-term basis. But continuous tracking raises the possibility that it might create a new police system for monitoring residents' activities.

    There are other effective ways to prevent a relapse — such as counseling and education. These programs need to be improved with more active participation of the specialists in these fields. The task for justice and police authorities is to establish the kind of system that can reduce the social anxiety over the rising incidence of sex crime against children, particularly for parents of young girls.

The Japan Times Weekly
Jan. 29, 2005
(C) All rights reserved

      この措置は正しい方向への第一歩だが、詳細は今後詰めることになる。この制度は厳しく管理しないと、前歴者の更生を阻害し、人権侵害の原因になる。法務省、警察庁は、居住地の情報のみ共有することとし、情報はあくまでも内部利用にとどめねばならない。

      奈良県で起きた7歳児の誘拐殺人事件で性犯罪者の再犯防止策が問題になった。犯人の36歳の男は、過去2回の少女に対する性犯罪事件で有罪判決を受けており、警察庁は性犯罪者についてより強力な監視体制を求めた。

      国民世論は、凶悪な性犯罪の再発を防止するため厳しい措置を求めている。最近の刑法改正で、強姦に対する刑事罰はこれまでの懲役2年までが3年までと重くなり、集団強姦罪も新設された。

      前歴者の居住地を把握する制度は、国会の議決なしに実施できる。しかし、法執行当局が居住地情報を共有することにはいくつかの問題がある。

      最新の犯罪白書によれば、03年の再犯率は強姦が8%、強制わいせつは11%で、暴行傷害、恐喝の各20%、窃盗の18%に比べ低く、過剰反応は禁物だ。

      また、刑期を終えた前歴者には、プライバシーを守る権利があり、居住地を記録するシステムは彼らの更生を損なう可能性がある。

      さらに、制度適用に当たり比較的軽微な性犯罪（痴漢行為など）と重大な犯罪（強姦など）をどう区別するのか。対象は服役後の前歴者だけか？執行猶予中の者はどうするのか？少年の場合は？などの問題がある。

      海外には前歴者の氏名、住所を公表する制度があるが、日本では同様制度の導入には慎重を期すべきだ。

      警察庁は、服役後の前歴者の居住地情報を長期的に記録する制度を検討しているというが、これは住民に対する新たな監視制度につながる可能性がある。

      他の再犯防止策としてカウンセリング、教育なども強化すべきだ。法務省、警察庁に求められるのは、児童を狙う性犯罪の増加に対する社会不安をなくすことである。