The Prince of Wales School Celebrates 100 Years of Excellence
The Prince of Wales School in Freetown, Sierra Leone, was inaugurated by the then Prince of Wales on April 6, 1925. This prestigious institution was the first government secondary school in Freetown and the first in Sierra Leone to emphasize the teaching of Science and Mathematics. It attracted students not only from Sierra Leone but also from other West African countries.
The Prince of Wales School in Freetown, Sierra Leone, was inaugurated by the then Prince of Wales on April 6, 1925. This prestigious institution was the first government secondary school in Freetown and the first in Sierra Leone to emphasize the teaching of Science and Mathematics. It attracted students not only from Sierra Leone but also from other West African countries.
The Prince of Wales School's bold attempt to feature a Live Lion in its Centenary Thanksgiving Anniversary has been denied by the Sierra Leone Police citing public safety.
Theme: ‘The King of Academic Jungle’
Drawing inspiration from the school motto ‘Forward’ and the Lion Crest, the Class of 2003 formally approached the Sierra Leone Police with an extreme proposal to import a Cape Lion (Panthera Leo Melanochaita) from the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Their vision was to have the lion, accompanied by four professional lion tamers, participate in the parade from Kissy Road to Kingtom on April 6th, which marks the 100th anniversary.
The Sierra Leone Police weren’t ready for the jungle to move into the Streets of Freetown. In a letter dated 29th March, the Inspector General’s Office denied the request, citing public safety.
Rival schools and critics soon begin trolling 'The Move' with memes on social media.
P.O.W Lion don loose oh, unu keych am ooh😃😃😃
Regardless!
The jubilee celebration reminds us of the enduring bonds forged over 100 years of academic excellence.
“Series of Events ”
The Princewalean: 100 Years of Excellence
Official Launch on 1 April 2025 on Amazon! A collection of essays and articles, primarily composed of reminiscences and mostly authored by alumni, celebrates the achievements of principals, teachers, and distinguished graduates in various disciplines and sports. These writings also highlight the school's contribution to the development of Sierra Leone and West Africa. Tap HERE to Get Your Copy on Amazon.
School Athletics: Handing prizes to donors and athletes
This page will be continuously updated—please refresh later for more information.
SSI Recipients Will Get April Check on Regular Schedule, But Upcoming Months Will Vary
Because of the calendar, Social Security recipients who get Supplemental Security Income benefits get one check in April, but two payments in May.
Mike Snider, USA TODAY
Sat, March 29, 2025, at 6:01 AM EDT
After getting two Supplemental Security Income checks in February, beneficiaries will get their April payment at the normal time – but the month of May brings more payment quirks.
Usually, SSI checks hit on the first of the month, unless the date lands on a federal holiday or weekend. April 1 is a Tuesday, so that's when SSI checks will arrive.
About 7.4 million Americans who may be disabled or have limited resources get monthly SSI benefit payments. About one-third of those who get SSI also get Social Security.
Traditional Social Security payments – for those who are older or retired – are issued for most recipients on Wednesdays throughout the month. So, if your birthdate falls between the first and 10th of the month, you are paid on the second Wednesday of the month; between the 11th and 20th, you’re paid on the third Wednesday, and if you were born after the 20th of the month, you get paid on the fourth Wednesday of the month, according to the Social Security Administration’s calendar.
Recipients who began getting Social Security before May 1997 are paid on the 3rd of the month – and if they also get SSI, that benefit comes on the 1st.
Social Security: Program change coming this week: Agency begins taking back 100% of overpayments
SSI payment calendar: More quirks ahead
A sign in front of the entrance of the Security Administration's main campus on March 19, 2025 in Woodlawn, Maryland.
In May, SSI recipients will get two checks: the May SSI payment is scheduled to be issued on May 1, according to the SSA calendar, and the June SSI payment on May 30 – payments are issued early because June 1 falls on a weekend.
That means in June, as it was in March, SSI beneficiaries will not get a payment in that calendar month.
The calendar quirk crops up again in August when SSI recipients will get two checks – the August payment on Aug. 1 and the September payment on Aug. 29 – but no payment in the calendar month of September.
SSI recipients will also get two checks in October, but not one in the calendar month of November, according to the SSA calendar.
When are SSI payments sent out for April? See the full 2025 payment schedule
Supplemental Security Income checks will be sent out on the following dates in 2025, according to the SSA calendar.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 (Check for April 2025)
Thursday, May 1, 2025 (Check for May 2025)
Friday, May 30, 2025 (Check for June 2025)
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (Check for July 2025)
Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 (Check for August 2025)
Friday, Aug. 29, 2025 (Check for September 2025)
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 (Check for October 2025)
Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 (Check for November 2025)
Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 (Check for December 2025)
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 (Check for January 2026)
What is SSI?
Supplemental Security Income is a benefit payment for those with limited income or resources aged 65 or older, who are blind or have a qualifying disability. Children with a qualifying disability can also get SSI, according to the SSA's website.
In general, adults who qualify for SSI do not earn more than $2,019 from work monthly.
If you or someone you know thinks they may be eligible for SSI, you can begin the application process online, in person at your local Social Security office, or by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time during the work week.
If you think you may want to apply for Social Security or SSI in the near future, you may want to create an online account soon if you haven't, as the agency is implementing “stronger identity verification procedures,” including online identity proofing, starting March 31.
Contributing: Jonathan LimehouseFollow Mike Snider on Threads, Bluesky and X: mikegsnider &@mikegsnider.bsky.social &@mikesnider.
We in Sierra Leone Have Become Completely 'Tonto,' Transitioning Into a Far More Dangerous Realm of Drug Trafficking
Sierra Leone's enduring struggles are rooted in a long and troubled history that stretches back centuries. From the oppressive grip of colonialism to the challenges of post-independence, leaders have continuously twisted the truth to advance their agendas. This betrayal has not only persisted but has become entrenched within the very institutions of the country. Each institution—be it political, judicial, or administrative—harbors its own set of moles that undermine the system.
The entanglement of political figures, security forces, and administrative officials with narcotics traffickers has not only facilitated the cartel’s operations but has also eroded public trust in democratic governance and jeopardized both national and international security.Sierra Leone's enduring struggles are rooted in a long and troubled history that stretches back centuries. From the oppressive grip of colonialism to the challenges of post-independence, leaders have continuously twisted the truth to advance their agendas. This betrayal has not only persisted but has become entrenched within the very institutions of the country. Each institution—political, judicial, or administrative—harbors its own set of moles that undermine the system.
These agents of deceit ensure that the truth is buried beneath layers of bureaucratic confusion, feeding the public a steady diet of misinformation.
We have gone totally ‘Tonto.’
Often referred to as the ‘Athens of Africa,’ Sierra Leone is a land rich in potential, boasting 44 minerals containing rare earth elements, arable land, fertile soil, predictable weather, and a rich cultural heritage. However, behind this impressive façade, the country's elites have inflicted significant damage on both the nation and its economy. As a result, we have completely lost our way.
Sixty-four years after our country's independence from the British on April 27, 1961, our country still struggles to find a path toward prosperity. While other African nations have made significant progress despite facing similar historical circumstances, we now find ourselves in an even more precarious situation.
Graduating instead to a much more dangerous territory of international drug trafficking.
‘The entanglement of political figures, security forces, and administrative officials with narcotics traffickers has not only facilitated the cartel’s operations but has also eroded public trust in democratic governance and jeopardized both national and international security.’
“We have completely gone ‘Tonto.’”
“SIERRA LEONE: COCAINE CARTELS AND THE RISE OF STATE CAPTURE”
Sierra Leone has come under renewed scrutiny as a key transit hub for international drug trafficking. A damning report by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs underscores the extent of the crisis, stating that "drug trafficking and money laundering remain prevalent, with the country being used as a transshipment point from South America and Asia to Europe, and, to a lesser extent, the United States." The report further highlights that corruption is a “pervasive problem in Sierra Leone that compromises citizen access to basic public services and institutions such as health, education, and the police. The criminal justice system is inefficient and backlogged.” ( Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs: Sierra Leone Summary - United States Department of State)
Escalating role in global drug trade
Sierra Leone has become a critical hub in international cocaine trafficking, with increasing seizures and arrests linked to the country. The World Drug Report 2023 identified eight African nations as emerging markets for the cocaine trade between 2019 and 2022. Among them, Sierra Leone stands out, with record drug seizures in 2021. —page160: WDR23_B3_CH8.pdf.
The country’s role in the global narcotics trade became even more evident when Belgian authorities traced the second-largest shipment of cocaine entering their ports to Sierra Leone, seizing six tons of the illicit substance in 2024. (Big Drop In Drug Seizures At Belgium Mega Port As Latam Busts Soar - Barron's)
Cocaine seizures
The increasing use of West African maritime routes by traffickers is exemplified by a significant drug interception in November 2022. The French Navy, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, intercepted a Brazilian tugboat 400 miles off the coast of Sierra Leone. The vessel, under surveillance since its departure from Brazil, was carrying over 4.6 tons of cocaine worth approximately €150 million (US$157.8 million). If distributed in the UK, authorities estimate the drugs could have generated more than £300 million (US$366.4 million) in criminal profits. (French Navy Seizes 4.6 Tons of Cocaine from Brazilian Tugboat | OCCRP)
(The French Navy)
Sierra Leone's link to the global cocaine trade has been further reinforced by multiple arrests involving traffickers with ties to the country
On January 9, 2025, Joy Gulmatico, a 29-year-old Filipina, was apprehended at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport attempting to smuggle 4.57 kg of cocaine worth PHP 24.2 million ($416,240). She had travelled from Sierra Leone via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Filipina traveler caught with P24-M cocaine at NAIA | Philippine News Agency)
On 17 January 2025, in Mumbai, India, authorities arrested Thoma Mendy, a 40-year-old Senegalese national, for smuggling 2.6 kg of cocaine valued at ₹26.62 crore ($3 million). Mendy admitted he had received the drugs at a hotel in Sierra Leone before embarking on his journey. (Mumbai: DRI Arrests 40-Year-Old Senegal National For Smuggling Cocaine Worth ₹26.62 Crore At CSMIA; Reveals Syndicate Ties)
On 8 February 2025, the authorities in Liberia seized a “shipment of 234 kg of cocaine at Bo Waterside, a key border crossing with Sierra Leone.” (Liberia’s Growing Drug Crisis: Weak Justice System Turning Nation into Traffickers’ Haven - FrontPageAfrica)
In May 2022, a major cocaine seizure occurred in Burkina Faso, where 115 kg of the drug was discovered in a vehicle that had originated in Sierra Leone before crossing through Guinea and Mali en route to Ghana. (See page 14: TOCTA_Sahel_drugs.pdf)
High-profile UK smuggling operation
One of the most striking cases implicating Sierra Leone in global drug trafficking occurred in June 2022. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) intercepted a Merseyside-based organized crime syndicate attempting to smuggle 1.3 tonnes of cocaine into the UK. The drugs, concealed within a shipment of garri flour from Freetown, had an estimated street value of £140 million. The operation, codenamed "Lemonlike," identified Darren Schofield, also known as "Thor," as the ringleader. Six members of the gang were sentenced to a combined 75 years in prison in December 2024. ( Drugs boss set up front company for Amazon and Argos goods to smuggle cocaine worth £140m - National Crime Agency) (Thor' and his gang smuggled £140m of cocaine into the UK from Sierra Leone - Liverpool Echo)
Diplomatic controversy
On or about January 17, 2025, no fewer than seven suitcases filled with cocaine were discovered in a Sierra Leone embassy vehicle in Guinea, raising diplomatic and legal questions about official complicity in drug smuggling operations. (Sierra Leone: Suitcases of suspected cocaine found in embassy vehicle - BBC News) | (YAME Digital)
State capture
The Africa Confidential Special Report, titled "President Bio Keeps Cocaine Lord in the Family," Sierra-Leone-Cocaine-Lord-Special-Report-1.pdf provides compelling evidence of state capture in Sierra Leone by narcotics traffickers. The report details how Jos Leijdekkers (also known as Chubby Jos, Mocro Mafia Boss, Bellos Jos, and Omar Sheriff), a convicted Dutch cocaine kingpin, has infiltrated the highest levels of Sierra Leone's political and security structures. (Mafia boss 'Chubby Jos' tracked down after pics gave away location but shock twist means cops can't touch him…for now | The US Sun) He has effectively infiltrated and commandeered state institutions to serve the interests of his criminal enterprise. (YAME Digital)
In 2008, Sierra Leone’s state apparatus cooperated to ensure that those who flew a plane-load of cocaine into the country were apprehended and handed over to the United States. However, this remains the only instance where cocaine traffickers have been arrested with the collaboration of the Sierra Leonean government. Since then, the landscape has drastically changed, with mounting evidence that state institutions are now complicit in the drug trade rather than combating it.
Various investigative reports have exposed the cartel's deep political ties in Sierra Leone. Notably, Africa Confidential reveals that Leijdekkers, also known as Omar Sheriff, has a personal connection to the presidency, as he is romantically involved with Agnes Bio, the daughter of President Julius Maada Bio. Agnes Bio holds a diplomatic position at Sierra Leone’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, a role that grants her diplomatic immunity. This raises concerns that the cartel may be using diplomatic privileges to facilitate its operations under official cover.
Reports from Africa Confidential and other international sources indicate that Leijdekkers and his cartel have infiltrated Sierra Leone’s security forces, securing logistical support and protection for their smuggling operations.
This suggests a deliberate subversion of security institutions, prioritizing the interests of the cartel over national security.
The issuance of official documents to cartel members is another strong indicator of state capture. Both past and present Chief Immigration Officers have been implicated in providing passports to cartel operatives, enabling their unrestricted international movement. This abuse of authority demonstrates the cartel’s ability to manipulate immigration systems for illicit purposes.
Evidence has emerged that the Queen Elizabeth II Quay, also known as Deep Water Quay, has been used as a hub for massive cocaine shipments to Europe. Despite multiple cocaine seizures abroad linked to shipments from Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Police have taken no action, further signaling state complicity.
Despite overwhelming evidence of state institutions being exploited by the cartel, there have been no prosecutions. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which is empowered to initiate legal proceedings, has remained silent and inactive, suggesting either intimidation or collusion. The ACC’s failure to act reinforces the perception of a compromised justice system.
Money laundering and rapid asset accumulation by government officials have reached alarming levels. High-ranking officials, including the Chief Immigration Officer, have reportedly acquired multiple properties in the United States and elsewhere in quick succession. This sudden wealth accumulation abroad strongly indicates money laundering and illicit financial flows, further entrenching the cartel’s economic influence.
Conclusion
These indicators paint a clear picture of a criminal organization that has effectively captured state mechanisms, bending them to its will and undermining the rule of law. The entanglement of political figures, security forces, and administrative officials with narcotics traffickers has not only facilitated the cartel’s operations but has also eroded public trust in democratic governance and jeopardized both national and international security. Addressing this crisis requires urgent, coordinated action at both domestic and global levels to dismantle the cartel’s grip on state institutions and restore institutional integrity, justice, and accountability.
Abdoul Mahdieu Savage | Contact: Renewal News Network Limited | Send EmailRELATED
KARACHI: March 23, 2025: Pakistani authorities have intercepted an attempt to smuggle 5.6 million Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets, valued at Rs2.8 billion (US$10 million), disguised as a towel export to Sierra Leone.
The case follows a similar seizure last month, where 21.8 million Tramadol tablets and 7,000 capsules worth Rs10 billion were confiscated.
“Nations Committed to Security Stand Against Drug Trafficking!”
They go to great lengths to smuggle the drugs, only to be outsmarted by customs agents. Anyone considering the risks of drug dealing across borders should learn from this.
41 States That Won’t Tax Social Security Benefits in 2025
Social Security plays a big role in many Americans’ retirement security. 40% of Americans ages 65 and older rely on Social Security for at least half their income, according to the AARP. Additionally, where you live can make a big difference in how much of your Social Security check you get to keep. Not only can up to 85% of your Social Security benefits be subject to federal taxation, depending on your income, you could also face state income taxes on Social Security benefits. Fortunately, the list of states that tax Social Security is shrinking, and only nine will do so in 2025.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 41 States That Won’t Tax Social Security Benefits in 2025
eric1513 / Getty Images
Social Security plays a big role in many Americans’ retirement security. 40% of Americans ages 65 and older rely on Social Security for at least half their income, according to the AARP. Additionally, where you live can make a big difference in how much of your Social Security check you get to keep.
Not only can up to 85% of your Social Security benefits be subject to federal taxation, depending on your income, you could also face state income taxes on Social Security benefits. Fortunately, the list of states that tax Social Security is shrinking, and only nine will do so in 2025.
“The list of states that do not tax Social Security is much longer than those that do,” said Brian Kuhn CFP, CLU, SVP, and financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Group. “And each state makes its own rules, which sometimes change, including, recently, in Missouri and Nebraska.”
Missouri and Nebraska have decided to stop taxing Social Security benefits in 2024. Kansas also joined in with a bill signed midway through 2024, so the state will not tax Social Security going forward.
Only 9 States Will Tax Social Security in 2025
Colorado
Connecticut
Minnesota
Montana
New Mexico
Rhode Island
Utah
Vermont
West Virginia
Kansas is no longer part of this list, and West Virginia is phasing out Social Security taxes, with no state income taxes on Social Security starting in 2026.
“Each state has tax provisions that could provide deductions for individuals below certain thresholds or ages, making each state unique,” Kuhn said.
Most States Won’t Tax Social Security in 2025
Most states, 41 in total plus Washington, D.C., won’t tax your Social Security benefits in 2025, based on current laws.
These states are:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Washington, D.C.
Wyoming
How Much Do Retirees Save on Social Security Taxes in These States?
Kuhn pointed out that you can calculate how much you’re saving on taxes — assuming you live in a state that does not tax Social Security benefits — by looking up the effective rate of tax you paid to your state for all taxed income sources and applying that to your total Social Security benefits.
“So, for example, if your effective rate in your state was 5%, and you received $30,000 in Social Security benefits, that would be a savings of $1,500,” Kuhn said.
However, this does not apply to all situations. Not everyone who lives in the states that tax Social Security income face the full tax. For example, in Colorado, residents ages 65 and older have been able to fully deduct federally taxed Social Security benefits on their state income tax returns since tax year 2022. For 2025, that full exemption will expand to include those ages 55 to 64 with an adjusted gross income equal to or less than $75,000 for individuals or $95,000 for couples filing jointly.
So, it’s important to look at the specific rules of your state and at your own tax situation.
Still, from a big-picture perspective, the amount saved among retirees whose benefits aren’t taxed is quite impressive.
“In Missouri, for instance, retirees are looking at a collective annual saving of around $309 million,” said Jeff Rose, CFP, founder of Good Financial Cents. “Over in Nebraska, it’s about $17 million. That’s a lot of money that retirees get to keep in their pockets instead of it being drained away by state taxes.”
Jake Safane contributed to the reporting for this article.This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 41 States That Won’t Tax Social Security Benefits in 2025
Oh, Sierra Leone, Your Children Cry Tonight
Oh, Sierra Leone, your children cry tonight, Through the echoes of war, we’ve lost our guiding light. Trafficking and drugs, tearing us apart, Where's the hope we had once, strong in every heart? They promised us a future, of peace and prosperity, But instead, they brought us chaos and misery. The streets once full of laughter, now shadowed with despair, Little ones are falling, does anybody care?
Oh Salone | Franklyn Bonnie Johnson-Williams
Oh, Sierra Leone, your children cry tonight, Through the echoes of war, we’ve lost our guiding light. Trafficking and drugs, tearing us apart, Where's the hope we had once, strong in every heart? They promised us a future, of peace and prosperity, But instead, they brought us chaos and misery. The streets once full of laughter, now shadowed with despair, Little ones are falling, does anybody care?
Oh Salone | Franklyn Bonnie Johnson-Williams[Verse]
In the heart of West Africa, where the lion once roared, Eleven years of battle, left our spirits so sore. Now the wounds are open wide, facing new plight, With a reckless government's heedless flight.
[Chorus]
Oh, Sierra Leone, your children cry tonight, Through the echoes of war, we’ve lost our guiding light. Trafficking and drugs, tearing us apart, Where's the hope we had once, strong in every heart?
[Verse]
They promised us a future, of peace and prosperity, But instead, they brought us chaos and misery. The streets once full of laughter, now shadowed with despair, Little ones are falling, does anybody care?
RELATED
Sierra Leone: A Narco State and Distribution Hub. Mr. Alimamy Bangura, the ambassador to Guinea implicated in diplomatic missions' cocaine trafficking.
[Chorus]
Oh, Sierra Leone, your children cry tonight, Through the echoes of war, we’ve lost our guiding light. Trafficking and drugs, tearing us apart, Where's the hope we had once, strong in every heart?
[Verse]
Mothers grieve in silence, and fathers lose their will, For every son and daughter, there's a battle uphill. We fight a different war now, against the darkness spread, As the soul of a nation battles for its bread.
RELATED
Sierra Leone: Small Country, Massive Suffering. Our so-called educated elite, leaders, traditional rulers, and religious figures have all become agents of our demise, poisoning the well of our collective aspirations.
[Chorus]
Oh, Sierra Leone, your children cry tonight, Through the echoes of war, we’ve lost our guiding light. Trafficking and drugs, tearing us apart, Where's the hope we had once, strong in every heart?
RELATED
“Sierra Leone: Toxic components of the ‘KUSH’ drug identified.”
Transnational crime investigators have identified China, the Netherlands, and the UK as likely sources of the substances used to produce Kush, a highly addictive synthetic drug. This drug has claimed the lives of thousands in West Africa in an alarmingly short time. Kush first appeared in Sierra Leone in 2022, and recent testing has finally revealed the dangerous chemicals that make it so lethal.
Caitlin Kelly has more from Freetown.
Feel free to post your comments in the ‘Post Comment’ section.
Japan’s Elderly are Lonely and Struggling
Some women choose to go to jail instead. But this isn’t a nursing home – it’s Japan’s largest women’s prison. The population here reflects the aging society outside, and the pervasive problem of loneliness that guards say is so acute for some elderly prisoners that they’d prefer to stay incarcerated. “There are even people who say they will pay 20,000 or 30,000 yen ($130-190) a month (if they can) live here forever…”
Source: CNNSome women choose to go to jail instead
Meet the elderly Japanese women who keep committing crimes to stay in jail | Source: CNN
The rooms are filled with elderly residents, their hands wrinkled and backs bent. They shuffle slowly down the corridors, some using walkers. Workers help them bathe, eat, walk, and take their medication.
But this isn’t a nursing home – it’s Japan’s largest women’s prison. The population here reflects the aging society outside, and the pervasive problem of loneliness that guards say is so acute for some elderly prisoners that they’d prefer to stay incarcerated.
“There are even people who say they will pay 20,000 or 30,000 yen ($130-190) a month (if they can) live here forever,” said Takayoshi Shiranaga, an officer at Tochigi Women’s Prison located north of Tokyo, during an extremely rare visit granted to CNN in September.
Within the prison’s light pink walls and strangely serene halls, CNN met Akiyo, an 81-year-old inmate with short gray hair and hands dotted with age spots. She was serving time for shoplifting food.
“There are very good people in this prison,” said Akiyo, who CNN is identifying by a pseudonym for privacy. “Perhaps this life is the most stable for me.”
At Tochigi Women's Prison, inmates are required to work in prison factories and workshops | CNN
The women in Tochigi live behind bars and must work in the prison’s factories, but that suits some just fine.
Inside they get regular meals, free healthcare, and eldercare – along with the companionship they lack on the outside.
One inmate, Yoko, 51, has been imprisoned on drug charges five times over the last 25 years. Each time she returns, the prison population seems to get older, she said.
“(Some people) do bad things on purpose and get caught so that they can come to prison again, if they run out of money,” said Yoko, who CNN is identifying by a pseudonym for privacy reasons.
Struggling in isolation
Akiyo knows the burden of isolation and poverty too well. This is her second stint in prison, after being previously jailed in her 60s for stealing food.
“If I had been financially stable and had a comfortable lifestyle, I definitely wouldn’t have done it,” she said.
When she committed her second theft, Akiyo was living off a “very small” pension that was only paid every two months. With less than $40 left and two weeks until her next payment, “I made a poor decision and shoplifted, thinking it would be a minor issue,” she said. Her prior conviction meant that she was imprisoned.
With little family support, Akiyo had stopped caring about the future, or what would happen to her.
Her 43-year-old son, who lived with her before she was imprisoned, often told her: “I wish you’d just go away.”
The walls and fences of Tochigi Women's Prison, located north of Tokyo | CNN
“I felt like I didn’t care what happened anymore,” she said. “I thought, ‘There’s no point in me living,’ and ‘I just want to die.’”
Theft is by far the most common crime committed by elderly inmates, especially among women. In 2022, more than 80% of elderly female inmates nationwide were in jail for stealing, according to government figures.
Some do it for survival – 20% of people aged over 65 in Japan live in poverty, according to the OECD, compared to an average of 14.2% across the organization’s 38 member countries. Others do it because they have so little left on the outside.
“There are people who come here because it’s cold, or because they’re hungry,” said Shiranaga, the prison guard.
Those who fall ill “can get free medical treatment while they are in prison, but once they leave, they have to pay for it themselves, so some people want to stay here as long as possible.”
Can Japan fill the gap?
CNN only passed through one security gate at Tochigi, where one in five inmates is elderly, and the prison has adjusted its services to account for their age.
Across Japan, the number of prisoners aged 65 or older nearly quadrupled from 2003 to 2022 – and it’s changed the nature of incarceration.
“Now we have to change their diapers, help them bathe, eat,” Shiranaga said. “At this point, it feels more like a nursing home than a prison full of convicted criminals.”
Part of the problem for former inmates is a lack of support once they re-enter society, said Megumi, a prison guard at Tochigi, who CNN is identifying by her first name only for privacy.
“Even after they are released and return to normal life, they don’t have anybody to look after them,” she said. “There are also people who have been abandoned by their families after repeatedly committing crimes, they have no place to belong.”
Authorities have acknowledged the issue, with the welfare ministry saying in 2021 that elderly inmates who received support after leaving prison were far less likely to re-offend than those who didn’t. The ministry has since ramped up its early intervention efforts and community support centers to better support vulnerable elderly, it said.
The Ministry of Justice has also launched programs for female inmates that provide guidance on independent living, substance addiction recovery, and how to navigate family relationships.
The government is now considering proposals to make housing benefits accessible to more elders, with 10 municipalities across Japan already testing initiatives to support elderly people with no close relatives.
But it’s not clear whether that will be enough, in a country with one of the world’s longest lifespans and lowest birthrates.
Cells inside Tochigi Women's Prison, where one in five inmates is elderly | CNN
The elderly population is ballooning so fast that Japan will require 2.72 million care workers by 2040, according to the government – which is now scrambling to encourage more people to enter the industry, and to import foreign workers to fill the gaps.
That’s evident in Tochigi, where officers “actively ask (inmates) with nursing qualifications to provide nursing care” for other elderly prisoners, Megumi said.
Yoko, the 51-year-old inmate, is one such caregiver, having gotten her qualifications during her last sentence. Now, when there aren’t enough prison staff caring for the elderly, she helps other inmates bathe, change their clothes and move around, she said.
All the while, prisons continue filling up with white-haired inmates.
Akiyo finished her sentence in October. Speaking to CNN a month before her release, she said she was full of shame and afraid to face her son. She planned to apologize and ask his forgiveness, but said, “I’m afraid of how he might perceive me.”
“Being alone is a very difficult thing, and I feel ashamed that I ended up in this situation,” she added. “I really feel that if I had a stronger will, I could have led a different life, but I’m too old to do anything about it now.”
Source: CNN | By Jessie Yeung, Hanako Montgomery, and Junko Ogura, CNN | Published 8:20 PM EST, Sat January 18, 2025