Japanese prisons upgrade interpretation services

Nov 20, 2017 | News On Japan

Nov 20, 2017 (NHK) - Prison inmates who don't speak Japanese now have access to better interpretation services, thanks to a new system introduced earlier this month.

Until now, a limited number of interpreters were stationed at 5 prisons in and around Tokyo. They could be dispatched to other facilities when inmates there required explanations or counseling about their health and other complex matters. But it was difficult to provide such services in a timely manner.

The new system connects the 5 prisons with interpreters to about 120 detention facilities across Japan. It allows inmates to speak with interpreters through video phone.

As of the end of last year, more than 3,000 inmates -- or 5 percent of the prison population in Japan -- were foreign nationals, according to Justice Ministry statistics. And their numbers are expected to grow over the coming years.

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