Yes. It’s true. Crime in Japan is higher among the country’s elderly than its teenage population.
Now, 1 in 5 prisoners in Japan’s jails are over the age of 60.
Between January and June, 23,656 people age 65 or older were subject to police action, compared to 19,670 people ages 14-19.
And apparently the Japanese elderly have been committing more and more crimes since 2003, because in 2013 the elderly crime rate has doubled!
What are these crimes they are committing you may ask?
Well, according to a government white paper from 2012, crimes included shoplifting by impoverished pensioners, and homicides according to police.
And this is the first time since 1989 that the elderly offenders have overtaken the young.
Now, the elderly subject to criminal investigations are more than 6 times what it was twenty years ago!
This surge in elderly crime primarily stems from bad economic conditions, and also Japan’s ‘silver tsunami‘ where the country’s aging and shrinking population has been a concern for a number of years.
Currently, over a quarter of the population is over 65.
And the Japanese elderly may commit minor offenses because of feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Koichi Hamai, a professor of criminology at Ryukoku University said:
“In prison, criminals can find companionship, food and good care, when outside, they may lack family or financial support.”
It’s very sad, but a reality.
[Featured Image Credit: independent.co.uk]