Friends of Prisoners in Japan
Forum...is a fledgling volunteer support resource offering guidance and practical help to family and friends of all those detained or imprisoned in Japan.
Landing on the wrong side of the law is traumatic enough anywhere. When it occurs far from home, where the language and legal system is not understood, it can be an intimidating and frightening experience for all those concerned.
This website as been set up to support and inform.
This a work in progress and we will slowly be adding the following:-
- » Information on the strict application of drug laws and discourage attempts to to bring even small amounts of drugs into Japan.
- » Information on the Japanese judicial and penal systems.
- » Information on detention periods, suspects rights, police interrogations, judicial process.
- » Visiting and communication rules.
- » Articles that can be sent to inmates.
- » A simple prison visiting guide.
- » A list of English-speaking lawyers.
- » A list of Embassy addresses.
- » A list of Prison addresses.
- » Links to helpful organizations.
- » A forum to ask questions and receive advice.
- » A petition to the United Nations Human Rights Commitee requesting action is taken to bring Japan’s legal and penal systems into line with other modern countries.
- » A database of volunteer visitors/letter writers.
- » Some real-life stories of “life on the inside”.
- » A “essentials” pack for detainees (hand-warmers, thermals, books, a medical translation book, a book of prison rules, information on the Prisoner Transfer Agreement and other permissible items).
We are supported by:
- » Fair Trials Abroad
- » Foreign Prisoner Support Service
- » Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown - Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment (United Kingdom)
- » Mr Norman Lamb - Member of Parliament Health and spokesperson for the Liberal Democratic Party (United Kingdom)
- » The Baroness Sarah Ludford - Member of the European Parliament and justice spokesperson for the Liberal Democratic Party (United Kingdom)