再犯

• Reading: さいはん
• Romaji: saihan
• Kanji breakdown: 再 (sai) — again, re-; 犯 (han) — offend, commit crime
• Pronunciation: /sa.i.ha.ɴ/

Meaning

Second offence; recidivism; relapse into crime. Committing a crime again after having been convicted and punished once before.

A key concern in criminal justice policy and rehabilitation. 再犯率 (saihan-ritsu, recidivism rate) is a standard metric for evaluating the effectiveness of corrections systems. 再犯防止 (saihan bōshi, recidivism prevention) has been enshrined in Japanese legislation since 2016. High-profile 再犯 cases often trigger public debate about whether punishment alone can deter future crime.

Examples

1. 出所後に職を見つけられなかった元受刑者が再犯に至るケースが後を絶たない。 There is a constant stream of cases where former inmates who were unable to find work after release go on to reoffend.
2. 法務省は再犯率を下げるために、就労支援や住宅確保に取り組んでいる。 The Ministry of Justice is working on employment support and securing housing in order to reduce recidivism rates.
3. 薬物依存による再犯を防ぐには、刑事的制裁よりも治療的アプローチが有効だとされている。 It is held that for reoffending driven by drug dependency, a therapeutic approach is more effective than criminal sanctions.

Usage Guide

Context: criminal justice, social welfare, law, policy

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Compound of 再 (sai, again) and 犯 (han, commit a crime, offend). The combination straightforwardly describes the repetition of criminal behaviour after punishment has been administered.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal