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Recordings made of interrogations in 97% of major criminal cases

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The Public Prosecutor’s Office says that audio and video recordings were made in 97% of major criminal investigations across Japan between April 2011 and the end of February 2012.

During that time, police interrogated suspects in 69 cases, of which 67 -- or 97% -- were recorded on tape and video, Fuji TV reported. In the other two cases, suspects refused to consent to recordings being made, the Public Prosecutor’s Office said.

In 28 cases, the entire interrogation was recorded, Fuji reported.

In February, an advisory panel to the National Police Agency recommended that police increase audio and video recording of interrogations in order to prevent false arrests.

Videotaping of interrogations has been conducted on an experimental basis since 2007 but the majority of police officers oppose it because they feel that suspects will be less likely to confess. It has been mainly used when the suspect in a crime has admitted to the charge early on.

The panel suggested in its report that there should be audio and video recording of interrogations in cases where the suspect does not confess and in cases involving mentally disabled suspects.

The panel also recommended that investigators should not rely only on confessions, but expand DNA databases and wiretapping.

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-1 ( +0 / -1 )

let`s see if they can record the entire interrogation - what the heck happened/was said during the time they were not being recorded??????

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So it is used to put a little additional ammo in the Prosecutor’s pocket? Not used when the suspect says they did not do the crime from the start?

Prosecutor: Did you do it?

Suspect: I think so, I was drunk.

Prosecutor: Roll camera! And action!

Prosecutor: Did you do it?

Suspect: No, I was home with my father, the Police Chief

Prosecutor: Ok boys pack it up; we are losing the light here.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Darren BrannanApr. 09, 2012 - 08:31AM JST Whether you confess or not, it still has to fit the police and public prosecutor's version ( vision) of the events. It is called verballing and recording is needed to prevent police abusing their authority.

Exactly. This is precisely why everything should be recorded. Cop: Confess! Suspect: Okay, okay. I did it!! Cop: Okay, we're good to record. Cop: Confess Suspect: I did it! I stabbed him to death!!! Cop: Stop recording! No, no! You strangled him. Get it right! Okay, throw away that footage and let's start again. Suspect: Umm... what should I say to make you stop hitting me? Cop: From line 5, and this time with more FEELING!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The percentages are misleading at best, according to the article it says 97% of major cases, out a total of 69, from April 2011to February 2012, and they want everyone to believe that through the entire country of Japan there were only 69 major cases?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Who are the advisory panel? Who appointed them? Why were they appointed? And what is their remit?

If the panel is government appointed, then why do they not have any power beyond "suggesting"? Any advisory panel's findings are pretty much always followed, unless unworkable or ridiculous, and, being an advisory panel presumably made up of people who know what they are talking about, that never happens.

If the police force has appointed them, then that's an admission from the police that they could be doing things better, and yet, despite it being obvious that the whole point of the recordings is to prevent miscarriages of justice, they are only taping when it suits them. I wonder if they'll follow the above suggestion.

Japan, what is the point of you having these types of advisory panels/watchdogs (the labour standards bureau for example) if they have no power?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

they are only taping when it suits them

Isn't it obvious? They are taping, when the suspect in a crime has admitted to the charge early on., and will use the "evidence" to show the advisory committee that it works.

but the majority of police officers oppose it because they feel that suspects will be less likely to confess.

The cops know this already and are afraid of getting nailed doing things that they shouldn't be doing. Taping can and does benefit both sides and assists in helping to prevent abuse.

Odds are in my opinion that the cops don't tell this to their suspects either. They would rather do it the old fashioned way and coerce a confession instead of "proving" their cases.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nuts. They only record a small part of the interrogation with the already softened suspect, obviously.

Suspect's lawyer: Well, we have many eye witnesses who saw you water-boarding the suspect.

Police: Lies, we have many eye witnesses who didn't see us water-boarding the suspect. And go watch the videos, can you find any that shows torture. Now, you are arrested for defamation, you will be interrogated soon.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Recordings made of interrogations in 97% of major criminal cases

Well its a good thing they did not give us a percentage of ALL cases, or it might not look so good.

Cameras all over the train stations, but they can't record all interrogations at police stations??

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I agree with that audio/video recording. There are many prosecutors who harm suspects physically. Hehehehhe But you know how poilice works. They are all comrades. They can erase anything that is against brutality. Hehehe

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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