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Mine Rehabilitation Center
Mine, Japan
Secom Co., Shimizu Corp.
May 14, 2007 The Japan Times
The nation's first prison operated by the private sector opened Sunday in Mine,
Yamaguchi Prefecture. The Mine Shakai Fukki Sokushin Center (Mine Social Return
Promotion Center) built on 28 hectares does not have any inmates yet. It will
soon begin accepting prisoners serving time for their first criminal offense.
The prison has the capacity to hold 500 men and 500 women. "I hope you will live
up to expectations and trust toward realizing safe communities by offering
high-quality correctional education making use of private-sector creativity,"
Justice Minister Jinen Nagase said in an inauguration speech. The government has
consigned most of the prison's operation, including security, job training and
cleaning, to an operating company set up by concerns including a major security
firm. The 51.7 billion yen contract runs for 20 years. The company plans to put
emphasis on job training for inmates, offering training in basic computer skills
and enabling them to get a hospital clerical worker certificate.
December 6, 2006 The Daily Yomiuri
The first prison in Japan to be set up partially through private funding has
been unveiled. The Justice Ministry, which showed off the prison to the press
Monday, plans to complete the Mine Rehabilitation Program Center in Mine,
Yamaguchi Prefecture, in February. The detention house will house 500 male and
500 female first-time offenders of minor crimes, and will feature new technology
provided by know-how from the private sector. The private finance initiative is
a method by which private funding and know-how are employed in the the
construction, maintenance and management of public facilities. Enacted in 1999,
it aims to reduce the burden on the central and local governments. The
government purchased a 280,000-square-meter industrial park in the city for the
facility for 900 million yen. The center was built by a joint venture that
includes Secom Co. and Shimizu Corp., and will operate the facility for 20
years. The combined construction and operation cost was 51.7 billion yen. The
ministry said government spending for the facility would be slashed by 4.8
billion yen through the PFI method.
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