Japan’s volunteer probation and parole officer system is so effective that the US should adopt a similar operation. Former criminals have a better chance at rehabilitation if they are more closely guided and supervised by a probation officer. The current number of professional probation officers cannot handle the heavy caseload. Volunteer officers in Japan help former prisoners reunite with families and friends, find a job, and avoid the types of behaviors that lead to crime. Each volunteer supervises only two convicts, and few of these commit another crime within a year of release. In the US, each probation officer oversees about 100.
