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CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN JAPAN 2019 edition

CHAPTER 1
STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION (PDF:1095KB)

I. POLICE

  • A. Overview
  • B. National Police Organization
    • 1. The National Public Safety Commission
    • 2. The National Police Agency
  • C. Local Police Organization
    • 1. The Prefectural Public Safety Commission
    • 2. Prefectural Police Headquarters

II. PROSECUTION

  • A. Qualification
  • B. Organization
  • C. Functions and Jurisdiction
  • D. Status (Independence and Impartiality)

III. COURTS

  • A. Structure
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. The Supreme Court
    • 3. The High Court
    • 4. The District Court
    • 5. The Family Court
    • 6. The Summary Court
  • B. Judges
    • 1. Appointment of Judges
    • 2. Categories and Qualifications of Judges

IV. CORRECTIONS

  • A. Organization of the Correctional Administration
    • 1. Penal Institutions
    • 2. Juvenile Correctional Institutions
  • B. Correctional Officials

V. REHABILITATION

  • A. Organization and Function
  • B. Personnel
    • 1. Probation Officers
    • 2. Rehabilitation Co-ordinators
  • C. Volunteers and the Voluntary Sector
    • 1. Volunteer Probation Officers
    • 2. Entities for Offenders Rehabilitation Services
    • 3. Others

CHAPTER 2
THE CRIME SITUATION IN JAPAN (PDF:139KB)

I. PENAL CODE OFFENCES

  • A. Trends in Penal Code Offences
  • B. Trends in Some Major Crimes

II. SPECIAL LAW OFFENCES

CHAPTER 3
CRIMINAL JUSTICE FLOW CHART (PDF:106KB)

CHAPTER 4
PRE-TRIAL CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (PDF:337KB)

I. INTRODUCTION

II. CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDS

III. INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES

IV. INVESTIGATION PROCESS

  • A. Overview
  • B. Initiating a Criminal Investigation
  • C. Arrest
  • D. Post-Arrest Procedure
  • E. Collection of Evidence
    • 1. Taking Statements
    • 2. Interrogation of Suspects
    • 3. Searches and Seizures
  • F. The Right to Counsel
  • G. Bail

V. DISPOSITION OF CASES

  • A. Responsibility for Prosecution
    • 1. Principle
    • 2. Exception
  • B. Forms of Prosecution
    • 1. Formal Prosecution (Indictment)
    • 2. Summary Prosecution (Request for a Summary Order)
  • C. Non-prosecution of Cases
    • 1. Insufficiency of Evidence
    • 2. Suspension of Prosecution
  • D. Cooperative Agreements
  • E. Safeguards against Arbitrary Disposition
    • 1. Committee for Inquest of Prosecution
    • 2. Quasi-Prosecution
  • F. Assistance and Protection for Crime Victims and Their Participation in the Criminal Justice Process
    • 1. Victim Notification Programme
    • 2. Victim participation and victim protection at the trial stage
    • 3. Compensation for crime victims

CHAPTER 5
TRIAL PROCESS (PDF:566KB)

I. SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES AND CHARACTERISTICS

  • A. Presumption of Innocence
  • B. Public Trials
  • C. Right to Remain Silent
  • D. Right to Counsel
  • E. Adversarial Procedure
  • F. No Arraignment
  • G. Single Stage Procedure

II. Saiban-In Trials

III. TRIAL PROCEEDINGS

  • A. Procedure before Trial
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. Pretrial Conference Procedure
  • B. Trial
    • 1. Opening Proceeding
    • 2. Examination of Evidence
    • 3. Questioning of Defendants
    • 4. Closing Arguments
    • 5. Victim Participation at Trial
  • C. Rules of Evidence
    • 1. Hearsay Rule
    • 2. Hearsay Exceptions
    • 3. Confessions
    • 4. Exclusionary Rule
  • D. Adjudication and Sentencing
  • E. Length of Trial

IV. APPEALS

  • A. Appeals to the High Court
  • B. Final Appeals to the Supreme Court

V. EXTRAORDINARY REMEDIES

VI. PUNISHMENT

  • A. Categories
    • 1. Overview
    • 2. Death Penalty
    • 3. Imprisonment
    • 4. Fine, Misdemeanour Imprisonment without Work, Petty Fine
  • B. Suspension of Execution of Sentence
  • C. Outcomes of Court Proceedings
    • 1. Formal Trials
    • 2. Summary Proceedings
  • D. Parole

VII. COMPENSATION FOR INNOCENCE

VIII. SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR JUVENILE CASES

CHAPTER 6
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES (PDF:1078KB)

I. INTRODUCTION

II. TREATMENT OF INMATES IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS

  • A. Trends in the Inmate Population in Penal Institutions
  • B. Philosophy of the Treatment of Inmates
  • C. Correctional Treatment of Sentenced Inmates
    • 1. Assessment for Treatment
    • 2. Prison Work
    • 3. Guidance for Reform
    • 4. Guidance in School Courses
  • D. Complaints Mechanism
    • 1. Claim for Review and Reclaim for Review
    • 2. Report of Cases
    • 3. Filing of Complaints
  • E. Penal Institution Visiting Committee
  • F. Act on the Transnational Transfer of Sentenced Persons

III. TREATMENT OF JUVENILES IN JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

  • A. Juvenile Classification Homes
    • 1. Background
    • 2. Recent trends
    • 3. Classification
    • 4. Working with community
  • B. Juvenile training schools
    • 1. Background
    • 2. Recent trends
    • 3. Classifications of juvenile training schools
    • 4. Personalized correctional education programme
    • 5. Correctional education
    • 6. Cooperation with custodians
    • 7. Supporting reintegration into society

CHAPTER 7
REHABILITATION SERVICES (PDF:446KB)

I. PAROLE

  • A. Overview
    • 1. Parole Examination
    • 2. Parole Decision
    • 3. Pre-parole Inquiry by the Probation Officers
    • 4. Coordination of Social Circumstances

II. PAROLE AND PROBATIONARY SUPERVISION OF ADULT OFFENDERS

  • A. Overview
    • 1. Adult Parolees
    • 2. Adult Probationers
  • B. Parole and Probation Conditions
    • 1. General Conditions
    • 2. Special Conditions
    • 3. Life and Conduct Guidelines
  • C. Parole and Probationary Supervision
    • 1. General Framework
    • 2. Intake Interviews and Treatment Plans
    • 3. Role of Probation Officers and Volunteer Probation Officers
    • 4. Day Offices
    • 5. Progressive Treatment
    • 6. Categorized Treatment
    • 7. Treatment Programmes as Special Conditions
    • 8. Comprehensive Job Assistance Scheme
    • 9. Offenders Rehabilitation Facilities (Halfway House)
    • 10. National Centre for Offenders Rehabilitation
    • 11. Self-Reliance Support Homes
    • 12. Community Life Stabilizing Support Centers
    • 13. Social Contribution Activities
  • D. Termination of Parole and Probation
    • 1. Measures for Good Conduct
    • 2. Measures against Bad Conduct
  • E. Outcome of Parole and Probation

III. PAROLE AND PROBATIONARY SUPERVISION OF JUVENILES

  • A. Overview
    • 1. Juvenile Parolees
    • 2. Juvenile Probationers
  • B. Parole and Probation Conditions
  • C. Parole and Probationary Supervision
    • 1. Short -Term Programmes for Juvenile Probationers
    • 2. Social Contribution Activities/Social Participation Activities
    • 3. Treatment of Juveniles Who Have Committed Heinous/Serious Offences
    • 4. Measures for Guardians
  • D. Termination of Parole and Probation
    • 1. Measures for Good Conduct
    • 2. Measures against Bad Conduct
  • E. Outcome of Parole and Probation

IV. AFTERCARE OF DISCHARGED OFFENDERS

V. PARDONS

VI. MEASURES FOR CRIME VICTIMS

VII. MEDICAL HEALTH SUPERVISION

VIII. CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES

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