eliminating similar cases in the future, by thorough implementation of interrogation which does not create false confessions, stronger functions for checking testimony in investigation command, enhancing investigative abilities which rely on more objective evidence, thoroughly appropriate handling of assessment records and assessment materials, etc.

## (2) Response to Judicial System Reform 1) Response to Lay Judge System

In May 2009, the Act on Criminal Trials Examined under Lay Judge System came into full force, and the Lay Judge system began operating. Under this system, in criminal trials of certain serious crimes, lay judges selected from among the general public work with the judge to conduct a trial and deliver the verdict, determining whether the defendant is guilty, and if guilty, what kind of sentence to impose.

To enable the forming of accurate impressions among lay judges who are not legal experts, the police work to thoroughly gather objective evidence of the crime, prepare simple and clear investigation documents easily understood by lay judges, and further ensure proper investigations, etc.

### Column 1. Trial audio/video recordings of interrogations by the police

In order to discuss methods contributing to effective and efficient proof of voluntary confession within the trial-by-jury system, from September 2008, the NPA and the Prefectural Police of Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa and Osaka began trial audio/video recordings of interrogations. The trial expanded to all the Prefectural Police in April 2009. As of the end of 2009, trial interrogation recordings of 352 cases were conducted.

## 2 ) System of Court-Appointed Attorneys for Suspects

The system of court-appointed attorneys for suspects aims to ensure the right to receive support from an attorney from the suspect stage, enable early understanding by an attorney of the points at issue, and enhance and accelerate criminal trials. This system has been implemented since October 2, 2006.

In investigating cases subject to the system of court-appointed attorneys for suspects $ ^{1} $ , the police thoroughly describe the system to suspects of subject cases, and cooperate with the detention departments which arrange for attorneys with professional judges and bar associations.

### 3. Utilization of Science and Technology (1) DNA-type Identification

DNA-type identification is a method of identification that focuses on and compares the differences between each person’s DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) to discern individuals $ ^{2} $ . Currently the type of DNA-type identification used by the police is mainly STR DNA testing $ ^{3} $ . It is presently possible to identify individuals with a probability of 4.7 trillion to 1 in cases with the highest frequency rate of DNA combination amongst Japanese.

The number of cases in which DNA-type identification is conducted has been on the rise every year and they have been hugely effective in solving not only felonious crimes such as murder cases, but also crimes that occur close to home such as larceny. The police register records of DNA types taken from suspects' bodies and records of DNA types allegedly left by suspects at crime scenes in a database, and utilize them in tracking down a criminal or recognition of further crimes.