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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a Meeting among the National Government, Regional Governments, and Private Sector on the Prevention of Repeat Offenses, at the Prime Minister’s Office.

After delivering an address, the Prime Minister offered a message to the people on the Brighter Society Campaign and the prevention of repeat offenses, to a representative of those in attendance.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

“Thank you for coming to the Prime Minister’s Office today despite your busy schedules. I also want to offer my sincerest appreciation as Prime Minister for your dedicated efforts every day to help those who have committed a crime or delinquency make a fresh start.

Preventing repeat offenses is extremely vital to make our society a securer place to live in as well as a safer place.

When I established my first administration, I set forth the 'challenge again' policy. The main theme of this ‘challenge again’ policy was that it is possible for people to change their lives at their own will. There are people who commit crime once, and then commit crime again and are sent back to prison. This is repeated numerous times. We have been making efforts to end this cycle, in the belief that doing so is extremely crucial for the maintenance of a safe society.

In order to make a fresh start, these people must not be excluded or isolated from society. The most important thing is for them to be able to work and have a place to work. It is extremely vital for them to be able to make a start on their own. In that sense, I want to express my deep gratitude to the employers who are cooperating to offer them employment. I want to continue to create an environment where society fully accepts them and where they feel that they have been accepted into society, and in turn feel motivated to rebuild their own lives once again.

The dedicated activities of everyone here have greatly expanded the network of supports available to people trying to make a fresh start. I believe that there is also a greater understanding of these people. Specifically, the number of regional public organizations assisting the activities of cooperating employers has risen considerably, increasing by more than seven-fold over the past four years. In addition, the number of cooperating employers employing those who have been released from prisons and others has approximately doubled, increasing from 364 companies to 835 companies over that same time period. It goes to show that if we put our mind to it we can do it. I believe there are many potential people and employers who wish to cooperate. It is very important to approach them and seek their cooperation proactively, as well as to convince employers that may be hesitant about employing people who once committed a crime or delinquency to cooperate with these efforts.

In December of last year, legislation related to the promotion of repeat offense prevention measures was passed. It is essential that we build on this legislation and the activities undertaken by everyone here, and further bolster the implementation of the initiatives for the prevention of repeat offenses that support both those trying to make a fresh start and those supporting their efforts, within a network of public and private organizations working together in unison.

I would like to conclude my remarks by expressing my gratitude to all of you for your cooperation to date, and asking for your further support.”