CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICEADMINISTRATION......................................................................................................................... 1
I. POLICE ................................................................................................................................... 1
A. Overview ............................................................................................................................. 1
B. National Police Organization .............................................................................................. 1
1.
The National Public Safety Commission ...................................................................... 1
2.
The National Police Agency ......................................................................................... 1
C. Local Police Organization ................................................................................................... 2
1.
The Prefectural Public Safety Commission .................................................................. 22.
Prefectural Police Headquarters .................................................................................... 2
II. PROSECUTION .................................................................................................................... 2
A. Qualification........................................................................................................................ 2
B. Organization ........................................................................................................................ 3
C. Functions and Jurisdiction ................................................................................................... 4
D. Status (Independence and Impartiality) .............................................................................. 4
III. COURTS............................................................................................................................... 5
A. Structure .............................................................................................................................. 5
1.
Introduction................................................................................................................... 5
2.
The Supreme Court ....................................................................................................... 5
3.
The High Court ............................................................................................................. 5
4.
The District Court ......................................................................................................... 6
5.
The Family Court .......................................................................................................... 66.
The Summary Court...................................................................................................... 6B.
Judges ................................................................................................................................ 6
1.
Appointment of Judges ................................................................................................. 62.
Categories and Qualifications of Judges ....................................................................... 7
IV.
CORRECTIONS ................................................................................................................. 7
A. Organization of the Correctional Administration ................................................................ 7
1.
Penal Institutions........................................................................................................... 72.
Juvenile Correctional Institutions ................................................................................. 8
B.
Correctional Officials ........................................................................................................ 8V.
REHABILITATION ........................................................................................................... 8
A. Organization and Function .................................................................................................. 8
B. Personnel ............................................................................................................................. 91.
Probation Officers ......................................................................................................... 92.
Rehabilitation Co-ordinators......................................................................................... 9C. Volunteers and the Voluntary Sector ................................................................................... 9
1.
Volunteer Probation Officers ........................................................................................ 92.
Entities for Offenders Rehabilitation Services ................................................... 93.
Others .......................................................................................................................... 10

CHAPTER 2 THE CRIME SITUATION IN JAPAN ...................................................................... 11
I. PENAL CODE OFFENCES ................................................................................................... 11A. Trends in Penal Code Offences ......................................................................................... 11
B. Trends in Some Major Crimes .......................................................................................... 11II. SPECIAL LAW OFFENCES ................................................................................................ 11
CHAPTER 3CRIMINAL JUSTICE FLOW CHART ..................................................................... 12

CHAPTER 4 PRE-TRIAL CRIMINAL PROCEDURE .................................................................. 13
I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 13
II. CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDS.................................................................................. 13
III. INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES ......................................................................................... 13
IV. INVESTIGATION PROCESS ............................................................................................. 14
A. Overview ........................................................................................................................... 14
B. Initiating a Criminal Investigation .................................................................................... 14
C. Arrest ................................................................................................................................. 15
D. Post-Arrest Procedure ....................................................................................................... 15
E. Collection of Evidence ...................................................................................................... 16
1.
Taking Statements ....................................................................................................... 16
2.
Interrogation of Suspects ............................................................................................ 16
3.
Searches and Seizures ................................................................................................. 17
F. The Right to Counsel ......................................................................................................... 17
G. Bail .................................................................................................................................... 17
V. DISPOSITION OF CASES ................................................................................................... 18
A. Responsibility for Prosecution .......................................................................................... 18
1.
Principle ...................................................................................................................... 18
2.
Exception .................................................................................................................... 18
B. Forms of Prosecution ........................................................................................................ 18
1.
Formal Prosecution (Indictment) ................................................................................ 18
2.
Summary Prosecution (Request for a Summary Order) ............................................. 20
C. Non-prosecution of Cases ................................................................................................. 20
1.
Insufficiency of Evidence ........................................................................................... 20
2.
Suspension of Prosecution .......................................................................................... 20
D. Cooperative Agreements ................................................................................................... 21
E. Safeguards against Arbitrary Disposition .......................................................................... 21
1.
Committee for Inquest of Prosecution ........................................................................ 21
2.
Quasi-Prosecution ....................................................................................................... 21
F. Assistance and Protection for Crime Victims and Their Participationin the Criminal Justice Process.......................................................................................... 22
1.
Victim Notification Programme .................................................................................. 22
2.
Victim participation and victim protection at the trial stage ....................................... 22
3.
Compensation for crime victims ................................................................................. 23

CHAPTER 5 TRIAL PROCESS ...................................................................................................... 25
I.
SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES AND CHARACTERISTICS................................................. 25
A. Presumption of Innocence ................................................................................................. 25
B. Public Trials ...................................................................................................................... 25
C. Right to Remain Silent ...................................................................................................... 25
D. Right to Counsel................................................................................................................ 25
E. Adversarial Procedure ....................................................................................................... 26
F. No Arraignment ................................................................................................................. 26
G. Single Stage Procedure ..................................................................................................... 26
II.Saiban-In Trials ......................................................................................................................... 26
III.
TRIAL PROCEEDINGS.................................................................................................... 27
A. Procedure before Trial ...................................................................................................... 27
1. Introduction................................................................................................................... 27
2. Pretrial Conference Procedure ...................................................................................... 27
B. Trial ................................................................................................................................... 27
1. Opening Proceeding ...................................................................................................... 27
2. Examination of Evidence .............................................................................................. 28
3. Questioning of Defendants ........................................................................................... 28
4. Closing Arguments ....................................................................................................... 28
5. Victim Participation at Trial ......................................................................................... 28
C. Rules of Evidence.............................................................................................................. 29
1. Hearsay Rule ................................................................................................................. 29
2. Hearsay Exceptions....................................................................................................... 29
3. Confessions ................................................................................................................... 29
4. Exclusionary Rule ......................................................................................................... 29
D. Adjudication and Sentencing ............................................................................................ 30
E. Length of Trial ................................................................................................................... 30
IV.
APPEALS .......................................................................................................................... 30
A. Appeals to the High Court ................................................................................................ 30
B. Final Appeals to the Supreme Court.................................................................................. 31
V.
EXTRAORDINARY REMEDIES.................................................................................... 31
VI.
PUNISHMENT .................................................................................................................. 31
A. Categories ......................................................................................................................... 31
1. Overview ....................................................................................................................... 31
2. Death Penalty ................................................................................................................ 31
3. Imprisonment ................................................................................................................ 32
4. Fine, Misdemeanour Imprisonment without Work, Petty Fine..................................... 32
B. Suspension of Execution of Sentence ............................................................................... 32
C. Outcomes of Court Proceedings ........................................................................................ 32
1. Formal Trials................................................................................................................. 32
2. Summary Proceedings .................................................................................................. 33
D. Parole ................................................................................................................................ 33

VII.
VIII.

COMPENSATION FOR INNOCENCE .......................................................................... 33
SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR JUVENILE CASES ...................................................... 33

CHAPTER 6 CORRECTIONAL SERVICES .................................................................................... 35
I.
INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 35
II.
TREATMENT OF INMATES IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS ............................................ 35
A. Trends in the Inmate Population in Penal Institutions ...................................................... 35
B. Philosophy of the Treatment of Inmates ........................................................................... 35
C. Correctional Treatment of Sentenced Inmates .................................................................. 36
1. Assessment for Treatment ............................................................................................ 36
2. Prison Work .................................................................................................................. 36
3. Guidance for Reform .................................................................................................... 38
4. Guidance in School Courses ......................................................................................... 38
D. Complaints Mechanism..................................................................................................... 38
1. Claim for Review and Reclaim for Review .................................................................. 38
2. Report of Cases ............................................................................................................. 39
3. Filing of Complaints ..................................................................................................... 39
E. Penal Institution Visiting Committee ................................................................................ 39
F. Act on the Transnational Transfer of Sentenced Persons .................................................. 39
III.
TREATMENT OF JUVENILES IN JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ........ 39
A. Juvenile Classification Homes .......................................................................................... 39
1. Background ................................................................................................................... 39
2. Recent trends................................................................................................................. 39
3. Classification ................................................................................................................ 39
4. Working with community ............................................................................................. 40
B. Juvenile training schools ................................................................................................... 41
1. Background ................................................................................................................... 41
2. Recent trends................................................................................................................. 41
3. Classifications of juvenile training schools .................................................................. 41
4. Personalized correctional education programme .......................................................... 41
5. Correctional education .................................................................................................. 42
6. Cooperation with custodians ......................................................................................... 42
7. Supporting reintegration into society ............................................................................ 42CHAPTER 7 REHABILITATION SERVICES ................................................................................. 43
I. PAROLE . .................................................................................................................................. 43
A. Overview ........................................................................................................................... 43
1. Parole Examination ....................................................................................................... 43
2. Parole Decision ............................................................................................................. 43
3. Pre-parole Inquiry by the Probation Officers................................................................ 43
4. Coordination of Social Circumstances.......................................................................... 43
II.
PAROLE AND PROBATIONARY SUPERVISION OF ADULT OFFENDERS .......... 44
A. Overview ........................................................................................................................... 44

1. Adult Parolees ............................................................................................................... 44
2. Adult Probationers ........................................................................................................ 44
B. Parole and Probation Conditions .............................................................................................. 45
1. General Conditions ....................................................................................................... 45
2. Special Conditions ........................................................................................................ 45
3. Life and Conduct Guidelines ........................................................................................ 45
C. Parole and Probationary Supervision ................................................................................ 45
1. General Framework ...................................................................................................... 45
2. Intake Interviews and Treatment Plans ......................................................................... 46
3. Role of Probation Officers and Volunteer Probation Officers ...................................... 46
4. Day Offices ................................................................................................................... 46
5. Progressive Treatment .................................................................................................. 46
6. Categorized Treatment .................................................................................................. 47
7. Treatment Programmes as Special Conditions ............................................................. 47
8. Comprehensive Job Assistance Scheme ....................................................................... 47
9. Offenders Rehabilitation Facilities (Halfway House) ................................................... 47
10. National Centre for Offenders Rehabilitation .............................................................. 48
11. Self-Reliance Support Homes ...................................................................................... 48
12. Community Life Stabilizing Support Centers .............................................................. 48
13. Social Contribution Activities...................................................................................... 49
D. Termination of Parole and Probation ................................................................................ 49
1. Measures for Good Conduct. ........................................................................................ 49
2. Measures against Bad Conduct. .................................................................................... 49
E. Outcome of Parole and Probation...................................................................................... 49
III.
PAROLE AND PROBATIONARY SUPERVISION OF JUVENILES ........................... 50
A. Overview. .......................................................................................................................... 50
1. Juvenile Parolees........................................................................................................... 50
2. Juvenile Probationers .................................................................................................... 50
B. Parole and Probation Conditions ....................................................................................... 50
C. Parole and Probationary Supervision.. .............................................................................. 51
1. Short -Term Programmes for Juvenile Probationers..................................................... 51
2. Social Contribution Activities/Social Participation Activities...................................... 51
3. Treatment of Juveniles Who Have Committed Heinous/Serious Offences .................. 52
4. Measures for Guardians ................................................................................................ 52
D. Termination of Parole and Probation ................................................................................ 52
1. Measures for Good Conduct.. ....................................................................................... 52
2. Measures against Bad Conduct.. ................................................................................... 52
E. Outcome of Parole and Probation.. .................................................................................... 53
IV. AFTERCARE OF DISCHARGED OFFENDERS ............................................................. 53
V. PARDONS ........................................................................................................................... 53
VI. MEASURES FOR CRIME VICTIMS .............................................................................. 54
VII. MEDICAL HEALTH SUPERVISION ............................................................................... 54
VIII. CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES ................................................................................ 54