Ministry of Justice to consider public recruitment of volunteer probation officers

Japan is facing a significant shortage of private-sector volunteer probation officers, known as hogoshiwho work with the government to help rehabilitate offenders.

The shortage has been worsened by the aging of current officers, creating an urgent need to recruit new staff.

In late September, a panel of experts appointed by the Ministry of Justice to review the probation officer system released a final report outlining several proposed changes. Among the key recommendations were an experimental public recruitment system and the removal of the upper age limit for volunteer officers.