札幌刑務所の炊事場に密着 1000人分の食事を作る“受刑者”たち…更生と社会復帰を担う「刑務官」のなり手不足が深刻化 人材確保のための新しい取り組みとは

Prison officers work in prisons. With the current shortage of candidates becoming more serious, prisons are desperately trying to secure staff. We followed officers as they interact with inmates on a daily basis and some unusual recruitment practices. Sapporo Prison, located in Sapporo's Higashi Ward, houses approximately 740 male inmates. Many of these inmates are convicted of theft or stimulant drug use, with an average sentence of three years and two months. Meals for the inmates are also prepared by inmates. More than 30 officers work on this task, cooking for approximately 1,000 inmates, including those at the Sapporo Prison Branch, which houses female inmates. Sapporo Prison has approximately 350 officers working for approximately 740 inmates. This male officer is in his seventh year and is in charge of the kitchen. In addition to working with a large group of people, he is constantly keeping an eye on the kitchen, which is often hidden by shadows and prone to blind spots. Checking the finished meals. The lunch for this day was "Hinnobe Soup," a local dish from Nagano Prefecture. Since the prisoners are housed from all over the country, the facility incorporates a variety of regional cuisines. The staple food is a 70:30 mix of white rice and barley. The daily food cost is about 543 yen per person. The first place the food was delivered was an unexpected place. "I'm coming in, please taste it." (Male prison guard) He entered the warden's office. The prison warden tasted the food to ensure there were no foreign objects or food poisoning. "You're doing a great job with the limited ingredients you have." (Warden) "Thank you." (Male prison guard) After the taste test, the food was served. At this time, a physical examination was conducted to ensure the inmates had not taken anything from the kitchen. This man became a prison guard because he wanted to serve society. He was a bit hesitant at first. "Many of the inmates are older than me, and I had a preconceived notion that they were criminals. At first, I was a little afraid," said a male prison officer. However, seeing the inmates diligently working changed his mind. "They are determined not to commit crimes again, and despite their advanced age, they are enduring hard labor and working hard toward their release. I want to support them and ensure they don't return to prison," said a male prison officer. Prisons also focus on supporting inmates' reintegration into society, such as helping them find employment before release. Prison officers rehabilitate inmates and guide them toward a fresh start. However, the number of applicants, which exceeded 10,000 nationwide in 2019, has plummeted to about one-third in the past five years. Prison personnel officials believe that the decline in the number of inmates seeking public service is due to this. Furthermore... "Prison officers are often mistaken for police officers. Many people don't know what a prison officer is," said a human resources officer. If the dates overlap with police officer recruitment exams, applicants may be drawn to those instead. To raise awareness, a first-of-its-kind initiative will be undertaken. A program highlighting the appeal of prison officers will be broadcast in an open radio studio in the Kokono Susukino shopping complex in Sapporo's Chuo Ward. The title is "What is a Prison Officer?", or "Kemunani" for short. "I'm nervous, but I hope to share my current feelings and the nature of my job and spark at least some interest," said a male prison officer. This seven-year prison officer is in charge of the kitchen. Will he be able to make a strong impression? The broadcast has begun. "I'm the assistant in charge of the prison's 'kitchen,' a facility that prepares meals. I try to help inmates with any current concerns they may have and with their interpersonal relationships," said a male prison officer. People stopped to listen intently outside the radio booth. "I would definitely encourage everyone to take the recruitment exam," said a male prison officer. The 90-minute live broadcast concluded. What were your thoughts on the show? "I was nervous, but I think I was able to say what I wanted to say. Some people even picked up pamphlets here, so I guess it was worthwhile." said a male prison officer. This is a rare initiative nationwide aimed at alleviating the shortage of prison officers. Could it be a way to secure more skilled personnel? Post-Interview Notes [Concluding the Interview] Through this interview, we were able to gain insight into the current situation of an aging prison population in prisons and the future of prison officers as they confront this issue. Before visiting Sapporo Prison, I imagined it would have a dark and closed-in atmosphere, but the interior was actually bright with a white base and many windows, allowing sunlight to stream in. However, all of the windows were barred, reminding me that I was in a prison. What particular...