Posted inQuestion about Japan
Does Japan have a 99% conviction rate?
This article examines the high conviction rate in Japan's criminal justice system, which is estimated to be close to 99%. It looks at the reasons behind this statistic, criticisms of it and recent changes made to Japanese law and practices that may affect it. These changes include increased focus on legal representation for suspects throughout pre-trial proceedings, more emphasis on alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation and reducing the amount of time suspects can be held before facing a judge. Despite criticisms of unfairness, these measures are aimed at improving fairness while still maintaining the high conviction rate.