Japanese Justice Ministry deploys AI translation tools in prisons

The Japanese Justice Ministry distributed about 200 translation devices to prisons in the summer of 2025 to facilitate communication between officers and foreign inmates.

These tools allow prison staff to communicate with detainees who do not speak Japanese. At Fuchu Prison in Tokyo, officers used the devices to speak with a Chilean inmate who previously struggled to understand instructions. The technology provided real time translations between Japanese and Spanish, allowing the prisoner to communicate his feelings and needs.

The ministry expects the devices to help officers understand the experiences of foreign inmates more clearly. This improved communication aims to provide better support for the inmates' eventual reintegration into society. In the case of the Chilean man, the use of the translator helped him develop a more positive attitude and express an interest in participating in prison labor at a local factory.