スラチャイと英語を勉強しましょう！

05/20/2008 --The Asahi Shimbun, May 19(IHT/Asahi: May 20,2008)

EDITORIAL: Released prisoners

受刑者の出所―知的障害者の復帰に手を

According to statistics compiled by the Justice Ministry, some 7,000 prisoners--accounting for 20 percent of people who enter prison every year--have some kind of mental disability.

　毎年、刑務所に入ってくる受刑者の２割、約７千人には何らかの知的障害があるという。法務省の統計にある。

（mental disability=知的障害）

A sample survey released last year by a study group of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare showed that about 70 percent of 410 inmates who were suspected of being mentally disabled had been sent to prison for a repeat offense. The most common motive, cited by 40 percent of them, was "poverty."

　また厚生労働省の研究班が昨年公表したサンプル調査では、知的障害の疑いがある受刑者４１０人の約７割は再犯で入所していた。犯行の動機も「生活苦」が４割で最も多かった。

（inmates=非収容者、 囚人、入院患者）（cite=引き合いに出す、引用する）

A case of arson that damaged the JR Shimonoseki Station building in Yamaguchi Prefecture in January 2006 is a typical example. The 76-year-old man convicted in the crime was handed a 10-year prison sentence at the end of March. He has a mild mental disability. Since his early 20s, the man has repeatedly committed arson and served time in prison. The latest incident occurred only eight days after he was released from Fukuoka Prison.

　典型例がある。２年前に山口県のＪＲ下関駅舎が焼け落ちた放火事件だ。

　犯人の７６歳の男性は３月末に懲役１０年の判決を受けた。軽い知的障害がある。２０代の初めから放火をしては刑務所暮らしを繰り返してきた。今度の事件も、福岡刑務所を出所してからわずか８日後のことだった。

（arson=放火）

In the days after he was released, the man spent the entire 200,000 yen that he had saved from his prison labor. He has no family. Having been thrown out of the station where he sought refuge from the cold, the man set fire to a piece of paper and threw it into a cardboard box, setting the station on fire. After the ruling, the man said, "I don't have to worry any longer."

　出所はしたが、服役中の労役などでためた２０万円は使い果たした。身寄りもない。寒さをしのいでいた駅からは追い出された。ライターで火をつけた紙を段ボール箱に投げ入れ、駅舎を焼失させた。男性は判決の後、「これで心配がなくなった」と話したという。

（ruling=決定、裁定、判定、判決）

It goes without saying that people who have nowhere to stay but in prison are unhappy. If they repeat crimes for that reason, it could undermine the safety of our society. To lessen the chances of mentally disabled people committing repeat offenses, a safety net must be established to provide minimum support for their livelihoods.

　刑務所しか居場所がないのは本人にとって不幸に決まっている。もしそのために犯罪を繰り返されては、私たち社会全体の安全も損なわれる。

　再び罪を犯してしまう知的障害者を減らすには、出所後の生活を最低限支えるセーフティーネットが必要だ。

（undermine=土台をこわす、くずす）（lessen=減らす、少なくする）

Former inmates face difficulties getting welfare services. This situation must be rectified so they can properly benefit and make ends meet. Prisons that release them and welfare offices of local communities that receive them need to work closely together.

　実際は出所してもなかなか福祉サービスを受けにくい。それは放っておけない。きちんとサービスを受け、生活できるようにしなければなるまい。

　それには、受刑者を送り出す刑務所と、受け入れる地元の福祉事務所とが手を携える必要がある。

（make ends meet=きちんと処理する､きちんとする）

For mentally disabled people released from prison to be eligible for welfare services, they need to carry certificates of mental disabilities issued by local governments. The first thing that must be done is to encourage mentally disabled prisoners to apply for the certificates.

　知的障害者が出所して福祉サービスを受けるには、療育手帳がなければならない。そこでまず手がけてほしいのは、知的障害のある受刑者に手帳を取得させることだ。

（eligible=資格のある）（certificates of mental disabilities=療育手帳）

In reality, however, few do. In the survey of the 410 inmates suspected of being mentally disabled, only 26 had the certificates.

　現状はお寒い。さきのサンプル調査で対象４１０人のうち、手帳を持っているのは２６人にすぎなかった。

To obtain the certificates, people with disabilities or others acting on their behalf must apply for them. They are also required to present "proof that they developed disabilities before they reached the age of 18." These factors have combined to make it difficult for many such people to obtain the certificates.

　手帳を得るには、障害者側が申請しなければならない。「１８歳までに障害が発生した証拠」も求められる。これが大きな壁になってきた。

One way to remove the barriers would be for the justice and welfare ministries to change the rules so that prisons or other organizations can act as proxies in applying for the certificates. Diagnoses by doctors should be used as the criterion for making a judgment. Prisons and welfare offices are also urged to discuss in advance what facilities are able to accept mentally disabled people released from prison.

　ここは法務省と厚労省が調整し、刑務所などが代理人となって申請できるようにしてはどうか。障害の証拠も医師の診断を判定材料とすればいい。

　刑務所と福祉事務所は、出所者をどこの施設で受け入れるかもあらかじめ話し合ってもらいたい。

（proxy=代理人）（criterion=基準､規範）

It is also important to make use of the experience and wisdom of the private sector. Nanko Airinkai, a welfare organization in Nagasaki Prefecture, opened a Tokyo office this spring. It is gathering information from nearby prisons about the scheduled release of mentally disabled prisoners and helping them to apply for disability certificates and finding welfare facilities that will accept them.

　民間の経験や知恵を生かすことも大事だ。長崎県の社会福祉法人「南高愛隣会」はこの春、東京都内に事務所を設けた。周辺の刑務所から知的障害のある受刑者の出所時期といった情報を知らせてもらい、療育手帳の取得や福祉施設探しを手がけている。

A system is needed to support mentally disabled offenders so that they do not go back to committing crimes again after their release. The justice and welfare ministries should cooperate with each other without delay.

　知的障害者が出所後に再び罪を犯さなくても済むようにしたい。法務、厚労両省の連携が急がれる。

（The justice and welfare ministries=法務、厚生両省）

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 19(IHT/Asahi: May 20,2008)

朝日新聞５月１９日号 （英語版 ２００８年５月２０日発行）