9 votes

Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail

5 comments

  1. calcifer
    Link
    The salient bits:

    The salient bits:

    "The pensioners don't want to be a burden to their children, and feel that if they can't survive on the state pension then pretty much the only way not to be a burden is to shuffle themselves away into prison"

    "Ultimately the relationship among people has changed. People have become more isolated. They don't find a place to be in this society. They cannot put up with their loneliness"

    5 votes
  2. [3]
    vakieh
    Link
    I think by FAR the more interesting question is wtf is Japan doing to handle teen delinquency and youth crime? Because that data isn't showing an increase in relative crime by over 65s so much as...

    I think by FAR the more interesting question is wtf is Japan doing to handle teen delinquency and youth crime? Because that data isn't showing an increase in relative crime by over 65s so much as it is showing an absolutely insane decrease in % crime committed by under 20s relative to all other ages. 50% in 1990 to 15% now? That's incredible!

    I know Japan has an aging population that would account for some shift, but I would have thought a factor of like .01-05 at best, not 0.70

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      Luna
      Link Parent
      Not a scientific analysis, but I'd imagine it has to do with the 2.5% unemployment rate, as people tend not to commit crimes if they don't have to.

      Not a scientific analysis, but I'd imagine it has to do with the 2.5% unemployment rate, as people tend not to commit crimes if they don't have to.

      2 votes
      1. vakieh
        Link Parent
        That is about the same or higher than it was in 1990 though - it went UP as crime went down. The downward trend is only from ~2010 or so. I guess I'm just worried it's not actually a thing and has...

        That is about the same or higher than it was in 1990 though - it went UP as crime went down. The downward trend is only from ~2010 or so.

        I guess I'm just worried it's not actually a thing and has come from simply not penalising young people or something (which could possibly cause a worse spike after age 20 that could have been avoided).

        1 vote