HOGOSHI〜 Volunteer Probation Oﬃcers 〜

REHABILITATION BUREAUMINISTRY OF JUSTICEJAPANWhat’s “HOGOSHI”?
HOGOSHI or Volunteer Probation Oﬃcers (VPOs) are citizen volunteers who support the rehabilitation of oﬀenders. In Japan, the supervision of probationers and parolees (hereinafterreferred to as “oﬀenders” ) is performed by the professional probation oﬃcers (PPOs), andVPOs support the eﬀorts of PPOs by providing oﬀenders with additional supervision and assistance.
The VPO system can be traced back as early as the 1880s. In 1888, the “Shizuoka Prefecture
Released Prisoners Protection Company” (private halfway house) was established. It provided aresidence for ex-prisoners and appointed about 1,700 volunteer workers throughout the prefecture to support ex-prisoners with counselling and assistance. These great eﬀorts is said tobe the precursor of the VPO system.
Thereafter, the “Volunteer Probation Oﬃcers Act” was enacted in 1950 and the activities ofthese volunteers were accepted as a national system, which still continues today.

- Five Keywords on “HOGOSHI” -1As a “Supporting Neighbor”

VPOs regularly interview oﬀenders and guide them sothat they can keep the conditions of their probation/parole, but this doesnʼ t mean VPOs just “monitor” them. Rather than being representatives of thegovernment, they are “supporting neighbors” or “signiﬁcant others” . VPOs occasionally invite oﬀenders
into their own homes and treat them to meals, attentively listen to their concerns and wishes of daily life,and give guidance, both kind and strict accordingly.
Thus, the position of VPOs as “supporting neighbors”

Interview of VPO

enables continuous support for oﬀenders even after
the probation/parole period ends.

Column: HOGOSHI Badge
This badge is an oﬃcial badge identifying the status of VPO. VPOs
wear this badge when they perform their duties. The current badge isdesigned with 18 petals of chrysanthemum, a sunﬂower and therising sun, which represents dignity of VPO.

Note: Probation/Parole is a system which is central in the rehabilitation of oﬀenders, where providing
instruction, supervision, guidance and assistance are the responsibilities of the national government sooﬀenders can become self-reliant and sound members of society.

22Dedication and Volunteering

VPOs are commissioned by the Minister of Justice and are given oﬃcial legal status as part-time government oﬃcials based on the Volunteer Probation Oﬃcers Act. VPOs serve for two years, however,they can be reappointed repeatedly until they reach their retirement age, which is 76 years old.
They are not paid salaries, but the government reimburse all or part of the expenses incurred in discharging their duties, such as transportation and communication expenses. Nevertheless, VPOs withenthusiasm help in taking care of the problems of oﬀenders when in time of need, even during thenight or during holidays.
This sincere attitude by VPOs allows many oﬀenders to reestablish self-respect, re-enter the community and live their lives independently without re-oﬀending.
Volunteer Probation Oﬃcers Act (1950)
Article 1

The mission of all volunteer probation oﬃcers shall be, in the spirit of volunteer social

service, to assist persons who have committed crimes and juvenile delinquents to improve andrehabilitate themselves, and to enlighten the public on crime prevention, thereby enhancing thelocal community and contributing to the welfare of both individuals and the public.
Article 3

Volunteer probation oﬃcers shall be delegated by the Minister of Justice from among

persons who have all of the qualiﬁcations in the following items:(i)the person is highly evaluated in terms of character and conduct in the community;(ii)

the person is enthusiastic and has enough time available to accomplish the necessary duties;(iii) the person is ﬁnancially stable; and(iv) the person is healthy and active.

3Community-Based

VPOs are not mere supplements or replacements for PPOs. Their strength of being local community
members is what is unique to VPOs. That is to say, as a knowledgeable local resident having familiarity, they have the ability to utilize local social resources and related organizations, cooperatingwith the various individuals involved, all of which contribute to the improved reintegration of oﬀenders.
Speciﬁcally VPOs:･ support oﬀenders by sourcing cooperating employers and accompany oﬀenders to job interviews in order to help them gain employment.
･ as a close advisor to oﬀenders, recognize their hard work and give positive feedback to them.
･ coordinate with families or guardians who has accepted the oﬀender by utilizing the local network they have.
For oﬀenders, the stage of Community-based treatment is the exit point of the criminal justicesystem, and at the same time the entry point into society.

As the start of their new life, VPOs with astrong reputation from the society play an important role as liaisons that connect the oﬀenders to
the local community which may exclude them, and give the oﬀender a warm welcome.

34

Yellow Feather Campaign~ Campaign to Give Society a Brighter Future ~Crime prevention activities are carriedout under VPOsʼ initiative to build asafe and secure society.
Series of the campaigns are conducted in order to foster a general understanding of the importance of oﬀendersʼ social reintegration and crime
prevention.
Advertising Campaign

The “Campaign to Give Society a Brighter Future” (Yellow Feather Campaign), a nationwide movement which began in 1951 is organized under the leadership of theMinistry of Justice to promote public understanding of the rehabilitation of oﬀenders.
Collaborating with other organizations and volunteer groups, VPOs carry out thecampaign through various activities such as advertising campaigns, crime prevention
meetings for residents, giving lectures on drug abuse and so on, as well as public
relation activities through mass media and SNS. In 2019, 2,969,544 people participated in this campaign.

Column: The symbols and mascots associated with offender rehabilitation“生 (Ikiru)” sign was created in commemoration of the 50th anniversaryof the oﬀender rehabilitation system in 1999. Using Kanji character “生”meaning "to live" as a motif, this sign expresses an image that people
are to live towards the future as if trees' buds grow.

The Yellow Feather of Happiness is used throughout the country as asymbol of amicable cooperation showing endorsement of the “Campaign to Give Society a Brighter Future (Yellow Feather Campaign)”.

The Rehabilitation Penguins, Hogo-Chan and Sarah-Chan,, are helping
to promote the campaign. They are gentle penguins who pray for abrighter society free of crime and delinquency, and always watch
over those who are trying to rehabilitate themselves.

45Offender Rehabilitation Support Centers

The Oﬀender Rehabilitation Support
Center was established as a base forVPOs activities. These centers serve as
facilities where any VPO activities can beconducted, such as interviews with oﬀenders, VPO training programs, meetings between VPOs and related bodies or evenwith community citizens and so on. A
total of 886 centers have been established nationwide as of 2020.

Case Conference

Throughout the country, VPOs organize
VPO associations and have oﬀender rehabilitation support center in each area.

Basic Data of “HOGOSHI”
1. Gender

2. Numbers

3. AgeMaleAverage

73.5%

46,763 VPOs

26.5%
FemaleYears old

5. Occupation

4. Serving years
More than half of all VPOs havebeen serving for more thaneight years.

65.1

12%
2%

Religious professions

23%

Company employees

Hospitality

8%
11%

Primary and Secondaryindustries

Others18%

School teachers

56%

26%

None(2020.1.1)

5-Messages from “HOGOSHI”VPOs are working to help oﬀenders rehabilitate themselves to create a safe andsecure community. The following are some examples of the mottos they always keep
in mind as “HOGOSHI”.

“Lightening up a corner”
I would like to guide oﬀenders to the path to rehabilitation into the society by accepting them as a neighbor. Each VPO is one light, but if we all come together as one, we can form to be a “formidable light” that
can help to build a bright future.

“Making an eﬀort with continuous
self-development from here on out.”
VPOs support oﬀendersʼ rehabilitation and provide
volunteer work for local communities in order to build
a society where everybody can live in safety. Therefore, continuous self-development is essential for ouractivities.

“Accepting others without prejudice”
Regardless of who it is, I always try to accept theperson as they are in a respectful manner and with
open arms. It is my belief that “we are all human.”

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The Volunteer Probation Officer (HOGOSHI) system inJapan and the significance of Community Volunteers forcommunity-based work internationally.
Stephen Pitts
Ambassador – Confederation of European Probation (CEP)
Consultant in Community-based Justice

The Volunteer Probation Officer (VPO) system in Japan is remarkable in its scale and range of duties. It has
been, and continues to be, an inspiration to probation and correctional services in Asia and beyond.
The reasons are not difficult to understand. VPOs in Japan are integral to the work of the probation services.
Their central role is well-established; the first VPO Act stems from 1950 and addresses many aspects of theVPO system including volunteer qualifications and appointment. Although they volunteer time, experienceand expertise, VPOs have the status of part-time national government officials (including compensation forinjury). Among other distinguishing features are their extent of duties and presence throughout the country.
The Act allows for the appointment of 52,500 VPOs, a number which means they frequently offer the coreand critical contact with justice-involved individuals in all but more serious cases.
VPOs are supported in their work by local and national Associations, and are further guided and supported
by formal arrangements with professional Probation Officers. Increasingly they have access to “Offender
Rehabilitation Support Centres” . VPOs also promote system sustainability by encouraging other suitable
volunteers. Furthermore, the VPO system is complemented by other important volunteer organisations
including the Women’s Associations for Rehabilitation Aid and Big Brothers and Sisters Association.
About 22,000 “Cooperating Employers” provide further important community support.
The VPO system undoubtedly provides an exceptional example of community engagement in community-based justice work. Volunteers, working with people who may have complex backgrounds and needs,
demonstrate the care of society, a belief that change is possible, and encourage optimism about an individual’sfuture. They also offer practical guidance and support in overcoming barriers to reintegration. As establishedmembers of the community, VPOs are well-placed to “demystify” probation practice and to encourage communities to accept and actively support reintegration. All are practices that evidence tells us are often central
to an individual’s successful integration and desistence.
Internationally too, volunteers contribute a wide range of important roles, including work with higher risk
persons (for example Circles of Support and Accountability which originated in Canada) or extending the“reach” of probation work with specific groups or in more remote areas. Whatever their precise role, volunteers, as so well-exemplified by the VPO system, give practical expression to the Tokyo Rules’ encouragementof public participation in community-based work and to the unquestionable value of embedding probation
work closely in the communities they serve.
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We have uploaded someshort movies on “HOGOSHI”
to the Ministry of Justicechannel!

I used to be adelinquent
penguin, and I
did many badthings.

But thanks to myVolunteer Probation
Officer (“HOGOSHI”),
Mr. Whale, andMy “CooperatingEmployer”, Mr. Seal…

I’m now a“rehabilitatedpenguin!”

REHABILITATION BUREAUMINISTRY OF JUSTICEJAPANMarch, 2020
Cover picture : “The Great Wave” by Katsushika Hokusai
Cover title: “保護司” written by Murakami Kosho (VPO)

http://www.moj.go.jp/EN/