More than 80% of elderly female inmates in Japan's prison population were incarcerated for theft in 2022. Cameras recorded elderly women shuffling slowly down the hallways. Some used walking aids, and they were helped by other workers while eating, walking, and taking medication.
This is not a small problem; it is the largest women's prison in Japan. The prevalence of many of these women here reflects the aging of Japanese society and the widespread problem of loneliness. Local staff and guards note that some elderly inmates have serious health issues, but they prefer to remain in prison.
One of the workers at the women's prison "Tachigawa" Takayoshi Shirataki told CNN in September 2024: "Some say they pay 20 to 30 thousand yen a month to stay here forever." Inside the reinforced concrete prison complex, journalists met 81-year-old inmate named Akiko, who was sentenced for shoplifting food. She noted that there are remarkable people in prison.
Women in "Tachigawa" live behind bars and work in prison workshops. For some of them, this is an ideal approach, as inside the prison they receive regular meals, free medical assistance, care for the elderly, and also company that they lack outside.
For example, Yuko (51 years old) was arrested five times for drug offenses over 25 years, and each time she returned to prison, highlighting the aging of the prison staff. Akiko, serving her second term, admitted that she understands the weight of loneliness and poverty that it brings on her.
Shoplifting has become the most widespread crime committed by elderly inmates, especially women. More than 80% of elderly female inmates across Japan were incarcerated for theft in 2022. Some did this to survive, as 20% of people over 65 years old in Japan live in poverty.
Authorities acknowledged the problem. The Ministry of Social Welfare stated in 2021 that elderly inmates receiving support after release are less prone to recidivism than those who did not receive support. The ministry intensified efforts for early intervention and created support centers for more effective protection of elderly people in the risk zone.