How are Japanese Prisons ??

[F_O_R_E_X]

Just my curiosity !!

i dont intend being a guest of japanese prisons

i heard they are quite harsh conditions .... is it true ??

i mean in some euro prisons .... inmates can have their own library and
colour tv..... again i've never been in jail ha??

i'm just curious coz japan is one of the most progressed nations on earth
so?? are their prison conditons really so harsh?

regards
forex n Yen_Girl

[Pokemon-Master]

Read here, pretty nasty stuff from the Baker site
http://www.justicefornickbaker.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1149372712

however despite Nick's plea of innocence, I think he's guilty of something

[james]

i'm just curious coz japan is one of the most progressed nations on earth

that comment initially caused a fit of laughter but on deeper reflection, i suppose compared to a great many countries, japan is advanced and quite free. i'd dare say even more free (and certainly less prudish) than the u.s. is with that moron and the repuglicans in office. (not u.s. bashing, generally i like americans and their country, but the last 6 years just cause my head to spin and say wtf).

however, being biased and judging by certain western standards, at least socially in some aspects there is still progress to be made here. they can be downright provincial and parochial in their attitudes towards foreigners, women and the environment.

anyway, to your original question, the japanese criminal "justice" system and jail is for the most part a shameful disgrace with frequent flagrant disregard to human rights and likely worse if you're a foreigner. it's generally "guilty" until proven otherwise and the j-stone coppers don't seem to be inclined to do much with evidence or anything else that would require actual work. much easier to go the easy route and facts be damned. for treatment of prisoners, a google search on "japanese jail" should be quite informative.

[james]

however despite Nick's plea of innocence, I think he's guilty of something

stupidity of darwinian proportions for one..

[F_O_R_E_X]

Read here, pretty nasty stuff from the Baker site
http://www.justicefornickbaker.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1149372712

however despite Nick's plea of innocence, I think he's guilty of something

wow pokemon that link is pretty scary !!!

[Marvin Feltcher]

I've only seen the inside of Japanese and Western (Australian) prisons for work or to visit friends (unless you believe that Australia remains a penal colony). My views are also colored by the belief that people are in prisons (everywhere) because they're being punished for having done something wrong, often in the hope they will be rehabiliatated and can return to society.

Some of the things I've found are:

Japanese prisons
* Discipline is more rigidly enforced in Japanese prisons. By that, I mean there are sets of rules (none of which seemed unreasonable) and they are expected to be obeyed. When they are not, the prisoner is punished (usually sent to solitary). If the prisoner rebels or poses a physical threat, they are slapped in a restraining belt. They are beaten with police sticks or stun-gunned at times if they get violent.
* Japanese prisons, men's and women's, are horribly over-crowded. Guards generally take this into account when dealing with inmates. Foreigners often complain of being unfairly treated in Japanese prisons, but I've never seen any instance where they have been handled in any way different to Japanese prisoners. If anything, the prisons try to help them by appointing guards that can speak foreign languages and posting instructions in different languages.
* It's a generalization, but generally the guards I've seen have appeared to be fair and treated all prisoners equally.
* Prisoners can watch TV (in a common room), get exercise and have visitors (there is a limit -- one a month in some places).
* Access to lawyers is restricted and monitored by guards.
* All correspondence in and out of the prison is censored.
* Prisoners are actively encouraged to reform and make themselves contributing members of society upon release.
* Outside of violent crime, there are few repeat offenders (suggesting the prisons are fulfilling their roles. In every country, violent criminals are almost always repeat offenders, so they are basically the "criminal element" of that nation.
* There are some drugs inside prisons (men's and women's), but almost nobody becomes a prison bitch (overcrowded cells probably contributes to this). NB: Prison rape does happen, but is rare.

Western prisons
* Prisons are moving closer to a Japanese model. Many are now run for profit.
* Inidvidual privileges are better than Japan, with prisoners allowed to have TVs, books, decorations in rooms. Some prisoners can access the Internet.
* Living facilities are often disgraceful, unheated, no air conditioning.
* Prison diets are unhealthy.
* Discipline is enforced almost as much by inmates as prisoners.
* Drugs, STDs and violence are common.
* Loads of repeat offenders. Prisoners easily become institutionalized.
* Prisoners are given far more leeway to question rules and regulations.

There's good and bad to be said about both systems. Amnesty consistently slams Japanese prisons, especially regarding treatment of Death Row prisoners, but the Western prisons I know most about (Australia, Britain, U.S.) also have their fair share of troubles in the form of Aboriginal deaths in custody, abuse of IRA prisoners and Guantanamo Bay.

Prisons are tough places to run. Japanese prisons certainly aren't the houses of horror they're often portayed to be, but I wouldn't say they're a piece of cake, either. (I'd certainly be wary of whatever Nick Baker has to say, anyhow, considering some regard him as a habitual liar). What I like about Japanese prisons is their better ability at making sure people who've stayed there before don't come back. Nonetheless, I don't think the Western prisons are as cosy as some people think they may be.

[CrankyBastard]

Marvin,
Excellent, well balanced observations.

[Greji]

Prisons are tough places to run. Japanese prisons certainly aren't the houses of horror they're often portayed to be, but I wouldn't say they're a piece of cake, either. (I'd certainly be wary of whatever Nick Baker has to say, anyhow, considering some regard him as a habitual liar). What I like about Japanese prisons is their better ability at making sure people who've stayed there before don't come back. Nonetheless, I don't think the Western prisons are as cosy as some people think they may be.

Good show as usual Marvin. You ought to be a writer when you grow up (or maybe ask your boss for a raise). BTW if you are looking for the name of some people who consider Nick Baker a liar, would you be so kind as to jot my name down on that list.

It is also interesting to note that a large number of FGs nabbed at the border with smoke, sneeze, or esty in their bags, first scream that they were framed, it was somebody else's dope n bags they just so happened to have be asked to carry through customs, or whatever.

Next, when this doesn't work, it's brutality in the pens. The guards are abusing all FGs within their reach! Sadly, most of the people who join these so-called support groups for these losers, have no further knowledge of the case then these news releases. The most accurate information they can find is provided by family and friends. Of course, the family and friends are going to say what, "he, or she, is probably guilty, put them in jail for life and beat them a lot". No, not qquite, but unfortunately, most of the time, the family have only a lot of the same information that the other groups have been regurgitating from the same junk that is continously recycling. Also, worthy of mentioning is the fact that by the time this information finishes cycling, there will usually not be an iota of truth left in it.

Obviously, there are always examples of the abuses to any system, but as a general rule, one can expect the treatment to be strict, but fairly well controlled in the Japanese custodial system for both J-people, or FGs. This, regardless of what some people or groups would allege!

[F_O_R_E_X]

Ryan, nice message though your post completely contradicts pokemon's analysis!
maybe the truth lies half way btween yours and his ?!

[Mini_B]

I'd be willing to bet that NO JAIL in Japan is as disgusting or dangerous as the Miami Dade County Jail (Florida, USA). I had to opportunity to spend a few nights in the clink with a couple of friends of mine last year. No clean water, floors were wet with funky algae growing on them. It was so crowded that we had to sleep on the floor, under the bunks. There wasn't enough room between the floor and the bunk to turn over. I was arrested without my shoes on...and by the time I left, my socks we sopping wet with jail funk which errupted into a strain of athlete's foot that was HARD TO KILL! to say the least. The ringworm on my neck was the icing on the cake. And yes, I was a foreigner in that jail too. The majority was black and 2nd was latinos.

All jail sucks. Everywhere.

[F_O_R_E_X]

I'd be willing to bet that NO JAIL in Japan is as disgusting or dangerous as the Miami Dade County Jail (Florida, USA). I had to opportunity to spend a few nights in the clink with a couple of friends of mine last year.

were you guys pissed drunk? just curious

[Tsuru]

How are Japanese Prisons ??

I wouldn't recommend them