Dealing with lawyers, police and the criminal justice system is difficult enough in your own country but finding yourself needing to deal with those kind of matters in Japan can bring its own difficulties and all the advise and information you can get is going to be invaluable.

Japan has a three-stage trial system for criminal cases. Proceedings in the first stage are fact finding procedures and are conducted by the district courts and the summary courts. The verdict from lower court can be appealed by filing a koso appeal. The high court will then examine if the verdict from the lower court should be revised. The final appeal that can be made the jokoku appeal, is to the Supreme court and then generally only legal issues are examined. The defendant can also file for a retrial after a guilty verdict if new evidence has been found that could lead to a change in the verdict.

If a person is unable to pay for an attorney the state/court can appoint a lawyer for him/her. Previously a court-appointed defense attorney could only be appointed after prosecution had been instituted however as of 2006 a court-appointed defense attorneys can be appointed for suspects undergoing investigation before prosecution in serious cases.

Contents 1 Getting Started 2 Criminal Cases Explained 3 Expert Tips 4 Checklist

Getting Started

Criminal Cases Explained

Expert Tips

Checklist