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Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

bbc.co.uk

51–60 of 116 posts

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#51
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look into prisons in Denmark - far closer to hostels or even universities halls of residence. So much so that they encourage you people to live in them too.

this seems more humanitarian, but doesn't it reduce the disincentive to commit another crime, especially for people from unstable or low-income backgrounds where the prison may be more pleasant than home? Most prisons around the world seem to be far too inhumane but I can't help but wonder if you can go too far in the other direction.

I mean, if you want to go back to prison you likely aren’t going to commit a violent crime (even if you did for your initial visit), so that’s a win.

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#52

1) human contact 2) room and board When pensioners or just any adult prefers jail to freedom, it makes you think we failed something as a society.

"When pensioners or just any adult prefers jail to freedom, it makes you think we failed something as a society." I don't see any reason to take people like myself accountable for the current state of society I inherited from the now pensioner generation, so let me rephrase the last part: "it makes you think they failed something as a society."

Why shouldn’t we hold ourselves responsible for the current state of society?

What we inherited is done, we can’t change that any more. But we can certainly make tomorrow a little bit better than yesterday.

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#53
post #42

> Japan is in the grip of an elderly crime wave - the proportion of crimes committed by people over the age of 65 has been steadily increasing for 20 years Journalist does not get stats. Its increasing in absolute numbers because the population over 65 is exploding as baby boomers come in that range. In relative proportion its not increasing at all.

Seems like the article caters for it well enough. In relative proportion it's increasing:

"In 1997 this age group accounted for about one in 20 convictions but 20 years later the figure had grown to more than one in five - a rate that far outstrips the growth of the over-65s as a proportion of the population"

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We've all done it, and often had to, which is the root of the problem. When I was under 10, both sets of grandparents and four of five aunts and uncles were within 10 miles, most under 3. Now we're all over the place and a visit isn't a regular frequent thing but a major, rarer, trip. As I'm in my mid fifties some of the future looks rather bleak. Add longer life expectancy after retirement and for most, better menta…

Last I'd heard, American labour mobility had been declining for decades. In 2011, the percentage of US residents who moved to a different state for work was half the rate from 1991 [1]. Though, I'd be curious to see what the data looks like beyond those dates. [1]: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2012/07/07/m...

I'd be interested in similar for the UK, but can't quickly turn up a similar graph or stats for here. I'm now curious of the picture since the war, as the picture for families seems to have changed quite significantly.

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#55
post #42

> Japan is in the grip of an elderly crime wave - the proportion of crimes committed by people over the age of 65 has been steadily increasing for 20 years Journalist does not get stats. Its increasing in absolute numbers because the population over 65 is exploding as baby boomers come in that range. In relative proportion its not increasing at all.

In relative proportion its not increasing at all.

The graph/data from the Japanese Justice Ministry presented in the article strongly disagrees with you.

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#56

When I lived in Japan back in the 80s, doctor visits were basically free. They took all day though, partially because the elderly would go to the doctor to interact with other people, rather than for a real medical need, thus clogging up the system.

it's the same now, clinic visits are very cheap but you will end up waiting for 1-2 old people (if you are lucky!)

I dunno, seems more likely the old people are there for a reason.

Anyway, I’ll take waiting a few minutes for free healthcare over paying for instant.

The only thing I’d like is for the quality to be a bit higher.

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#57
post #46

Assisted suicide is a big trend in my country for old people who want to check out. But I know that in many countries that's not an option due to religious beliefs.

Religious belief? It's more like moral and constitutional basic human right issue.

Are you saying that it's a basic human right to choose whether or not to live, or that it's a right to not have a right to choose? The former would be a very weird statement.

Re: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

#60
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look into prisons in Denmark - far closer to hostels or even universities halls of residence. So much so that they encourage you people to live in them too.

this seems more humanitarian, but doesn't it reduce the disincentive to commit another crime, especially for people from unstable or low-income backgrounds where the prison may be more pleasant than home? Most prisons around the world seem to be far too inhumane but I can't help but wonder if you can go too far in the other direction.

You can't leave. That's the disincentive.
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