Article 1The mission of the volunteer probation officers shall be to contribute to the welfare of the individuals and to the public by helping persons who have committed offenses to improve and rehabilitate themselves and at the same time, to enlighten the public on crime prevention and enhance the local community, in the spirit of volunteer social service.

Article 2(1)Volunteer probation officers shall be designated for areas by the Minister of Justice in accordance with the prefectural areas (hereinafter referred to as "rehabilitation area") into and designates.

(2)The full number of volunteer probation officers shall not exceed 52,500 across the country.

(3)The fixed number of volunteer probation officers in each rehabilitation area shall be determined by the Minister of Justice in consideration of the population, economy, the status of offenses and other factors of the locality.

(4)The authority of the Minister of Justice prescribed in paragraph (1) and the preceding paragraph may be delegated to the regional parole board.

Article 3(1)Volunteer probation officers shall be appointed for commission by the Minister of Justice from among persons who have all the qualifications given in the following items:

(2)The Minister of Justice may delegate the power for appointment set forth in the preceding paragraph to the chair of the regional parole board.

(3)The appointment set forth in the preceding two paragraphs shall be made from among the persons recommended by the director of the probation office.

(4)The director of the probation office shall, when recommending the persons set forth in the preceding paragraph, hear the opinion of the Volunteer Probation Officers Screening Commission in advance.

Article 4Any person who falls under any of the following items shall be disqualified as a volunteer probation officer:

Article 5(1)The Volunteer Probation Officers Screening Commission shall be established in the probation office.

(2)The Volunteer Probation Officers Screening Commission shall be composed of a maximum of 13 members (a maximum of 15 in the case of the Volunteer Probation Officers Screening Commission established in the probation office corresponding to the territorial jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court) and one of them shall be the chair.

(3)No salary shall be given to any member of the Volunteer Probation Officers Screening Commission.

(4)In addition to those items provided for in this Act, the organization, jurisdictional affairs, members and administration procedures of the Volunteer Probation Officers Screening Commission shall be provided for by a Ministry of Justice ordinance.

Article 6Deleted

Article 7The volunteer probation officer's term of office shall be two years.However this shall not preclude him/her from being re-appointed.

Article 8The volunteer probation officer shall perform his/her duties within the rehabilitation area wherein he/she has been posted.However this shall not apply when the volunteer probation officer is otherwise ordered by the regional parole board or the director of the probation office.

Article 8-2The volunteer probation officer shall, upon receiving designation from the regional parole board or the director of the probation office, perform the duties belonging to the jurisdiction of the regional parole board or the probation office concerned, as well as performing the duties, which are given below, belonging to the jurisdiction of such probation office, in accordance with the items prescribed in the plans of the Volunteer Probation Officers Association for which the approval of the director of the probation office concerned has been obtained:

Article 9(1)Volunteer probation officers shall be conscious of their mission, make efforts to develop a noteworthy character and broad vision and acquire knowledge and techniques necessary for performance of their duties, carrying out their duties with a positive attitude.

(2)Volunteer probation officers shall respect the confidentiality of concerned persons relating to the personal affairs which they have come to know in performance of their duties and strive to maintain honor.

Article 10Deleted

Article 11(1)No salary shall be paid to volunteer probation officers.

(2)Volunteer probation officers may, under the provisions of a Ministry of Justice ordinance and within the limits of the budget, be paid the whole or part of the expenses needed for performance of their duties.

Article 12(1)When a volunteer probation officer has come to fall under any one of the items of Article 4, the Minister of Justice shall discharge the volunteer probation officer from his/her commission.

(2)When a volunteer probation officer has come to fall under any of the following items, the Minister of Justice may discharge the volunteer probation officer from his/her commission based on a proposal from the director of the probation office.

(3)The director of the probation office shall, when making the proposal pursuant to the provision of the preceding paragraph, hear the opinion of the Volunteer Probation Officers Screening Commission in advance.

(4)The discharge from commission set forth in paragraph (1) or (2) shall not be carried out unless the volunteer probation officer concerned has been informed of the reason and has been given an opportunity for defense.However, this shall not apply when the discharge from commission is because he/she has come to fall under item (i) or (ii) of Article 4.

Article 13(1)The volunteer probation officers shall establish a Volunteer Probation Officers Association for every rehabilitation area.

(2)The duties of the Volunteer Probation Officers Association shall be to conduct the affairs given as follows:

Article 14(1)The Volunteer Probation Officers Associations shall establish a Federation of Volunteer Probation Officers Associations for every prefecture.However, in Hokkaido, a Federation of the Volunteer Probation Officers Associations shall be established for every region as designated by the Minister of Justice.

(2)The duties of the Federation of Volunteer Probation Officers Associations shall be to conduct the matters given below:

Article 15In addition to those matters which are provided for by this Act, any necessary matters concerning the Volunteer Probation Officers Associations and the Federations of Volunteer Probation Officers Associations shall be provided for by a Ministry of Justice ordinance.

Article 16The Minister of Justice shall take heed to commend volunteer probation officers, Volunteer Probation Officers Associations, and Federations of Volunteer Probation Officers Associations, which have rendered distinguished service, and give publicity to such service.

Article 17The local governments may, in light of the fact that the activities of the volunteer probation officers, Volunteer Probation Officers Associations and Federations of Volunteer Probation Officers Associations assist in the improvement and rehabilitation of persons who have committed offenses and in the prevention of crime, and contribute to the safety of the community and improvement of the welfare of its residents, extend necessary cooperation to the activities of the volunteer probation officers, Volunteer Probation Officers Associations and Federations of Volunteer Probation Officers Associations.

Article 18The procedures for enforcing this Act and other detailed regulations necessary for its implementation shall be provided for by a Ministry of Justice ordinance.