Yomiuri: 'Love letters' reduce recidivism among teens
"Love letters" sent by police to delinquent teenagers have proved successful in opening up their minds and encouraging them not to reoffend. Since April last year, letters have been sent to about 100 boys and girls arrested for criminal offenses or held in police custody in areas under the jurisdiction of Morioka Higashi Police Station of the Iwate prefectural police. Named "Ai no Reta," they are written by four female police officers who belong to the station's Community Safety Section. The number of letters written over the period has topped 130. In the process of exchanging letters with the teenagers, the section has received letters from some of the boys saying, "I'm so happy when I read the letters, I feel close to tears." The recidivism rate so far this year in the areas under the jurisdiction of the police station has dropped to one-third of the corresponding period last year...more...