Elderly life behind bars

Zoom Up By Takehito Kobayashi Yomiuri Shimbun Photographer

"I'm comfortable with prison life. I have clothing, food and housing, and I'm taken care of when I get sick. Prison life is like a strict nursing home," the 76-year old man said in a relaxed voice.

The gray-haired inmate, who has spent 20 years of his life in prison, is now serving his fourth prison term, this time for theft, in Onomichi Prison, located on a quiet hill overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture.

"Some people return to the prison on purpose when they have difficulties adjusting to life outside after being released," he said. "But I'm not like that."

Onomichi Prison has about 400 inmates. Fifty of them are elderly and are unable to live with the other prisoners due to disabilities or illness. The prison provides special care for older inmates. Some people argue that such treatment attracts so-called boomerang prisoners.

At 6:40 a.m., the wardens go to each three-tatami cell and talk to the inmates.

"Some have weak hearing and others have been diagnosed with dementia. So we need to personally wake many of them up," said Takashi Hayashi, one of the prison's assistant directors. Roll call is taken after the prisoners have made use of the toilet.

Breakfast follows roll call, with menus taking into account individual considerations, such as a low-salt diet or a breakfast of only rice gruel.

Work starts at 7:40 a.m. Jobs for the older inmates are limited to light tasks, such as tying strings to luggage tags. Shifts last six hours, two hours less than for other inmates.

The elderly inmates get a chance to walk in the sunlight in their spare time. Even though the prison may at times resemble a nursing home, Hayashi said, "Our job is to return them to society in good condition."

According to the Justice Ministry, the number of new inmates aged 60 or older has jumped in recent years. In 2005, the number was 3,460, almost three time that of 10 years before.

"I think we need to analyze the background of specific crimes in order to take measures to rectify this situation," said a police inspector who researches crimes committed by the elderly.