NCJ Number
79266
Date Published
1980
Length
87 pages
Annotation
Crime rates during 1979 in Japan's big cities, selected European countries, and the United States are compared, and the prosecution, adjudication, correctional administration, and rehabilitation of offenders in Japan are described, followed by a discussion of Japan's juvenile delinquency trends and treatment.
Abstract
A review of Japan's general crime trends and 1979 crime statistics presents data in the following offense categories: penal code offenses, special law offenses, pollution offenses, narcotics and other drug offenses, crimes committed by 'violent gangster groups,' violent crimes committed by 'youthful extremists,' crimes by public officials and mentally disturbed offenders, traffic offenses, female offenses, and crimes committed by foreigners and those committed by Japanese in foreign countries. An international comparison of crimes in urban areas shows that the incidence of crime and its growth rate are remarkably lower in Japan as compared to urban areas in Europe and the United States. There is concern, however, about the pervasiveness of drug abuse in Japan's urban areas. The discussion of prosecution and trial in Japan includes consideration of the frequency of appeals, suspension of prosecution and execution of sentence, and speedy trials. The description of Japan's correctional institutions focuses on the average daily census, admissions and discharges, treatment of convicted prisoners, suspects and defendants, and women's guidance homes. Aspects of probation, parole, and aftercare in Japan are also described. Following discussion of trends in juvenile delinquency, developments in Japan's treatment of juvenile delinquents and adult offenders are portrayed and compared with treatment developments in the United States, the United Kingdom, West Germany, France, and Sweden. Tabular and graphic data are provided.