Research on Social Inclusion Regarding the People Released from Prisons

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K02066
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 08010:Sociology-related
• Research Institution: The University of Kitakyushu
• Principal Investigator: Fukaya Hiroi 北九州市立大学, 地域戦略研究所, 教授 (60435732)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 稲月 正 北九州市立大学, 基盤教育センター, 教授 (30223225) ; 坂本 毅啓 北九州市立大学, 基盤教育センター, 准教授 (30353048)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 出所者 / ノーマライゼーション / 包摂型地域 / インフォーマル / 犯罪 / 伴走型支援 / 後方支援

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Through this study, we found that released prisoners were able to establish positive relationships with the general public. These connections included relationships with colleagues at work, interactions at nearby stores, and personal interactions among the involved parties, all of which helped prevent their isolation. Supporters provide behind-the-scenes support, such as offering counseling on human relations and enhancing the released individuals' images through outreach to local stores and other entities. Furthermore, it was suggested that sharing the personal narratives and images of these individuals' real-life situations could strengthen the general public's sense of ownership of social issues and prompt discussions toward creating inclusive communities.

In Scandinavia, the principle of normalization has deeply influenced criminal policy, suggesting a potential model for building inclusive communities around individuals under the law in Japanese society.

Free Research Field

社会福祉学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果により、包摂型地域の形成においてノーマライゼーション思想が持つ意味の重要性を示したという点で意義がある。出所者が孤立せずに生活者として暮らす上では、専門職だけでなくインフォーマルなつながりも大切であり、支援者の後方支援によりこのような関係性の形成・維持が可能となることが示された。同時に、一般市民の地域課題に対する当事者性を喚起する上では、触法者本人の語りや刑務所の取り組みをとりあげた映像も一定程度の有効性をもつことを明らかにした点で意義がある。