The Justice Ministry announced Monday it will act immediately to improve the correctional system and prison conditions, including taking steps to reduce inmates' mandatory work hours, allow outsiders to visit prisons and revamp all padded cells.
The ministry said it will add 451 prison employees in the coming fiscal year for the largest year-on-year rise ever. The fiscal 2004 budget for the operation of prisons includes a 4.3 billion yen increase from the previous year for steps to ease overcrowding, as well as a 459 million yen rise in allocations for medical care.
These steps can be taken without having to pass new legislation.