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The powers given to police and prosecutors to incarcerate suspects during an investigation without charging them are unique in the developed world

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The Japan Federation of Bar Associations, citing former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn's continued detention as an example.

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Not “unique”, but more like “unevolved, ancient, and unchanged” while other countries modernize their mentality.

Also the fault of the people as they don’t expect or demand more from their government.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Japan's criminal justice system is in need of reform, but there are two sides to this. We shouldn't pretend that Japan's system is uniquely dysfunctional. What often happens in other countries (particularly English speaking ones) is that prosecutors are far more willing to lay formal charges immediately on very flimsy evidence and then start their proper investigative work while the suspect languishes in pre-trial detention. Allowing police to only detain suspects for 72 or 96 hours without charge is not a panacea when there are effectively no time limits for pre-trial detention. Especially if there are few (if any) consequences for prosecutors when charges are eventually dropped or the suspect is acquitted.

Prosecutors in Japan are far more restrained and cautious when it actually comes to charging people. That said, the fact that people suspected of petty crimes can be detained for the same length of time as suspected murderers seems like something which should be fixed in the Japanese system.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

from personal experience I learned Japanese police can destroy evidence, fail all steps of due diligence, lie in reports and send those to prosecutors who may or may not investigate. These action of failing to do their jobs can be perpetuated through all levels of court and if judges choose not to investigate and demand an accurate accounting of a crime the victim has no recourse and will never get justice. Authorities claim they have ways to complain about such injustices but the workers receiving complaints work for the NPA or prosecutors office and will be of no help exposing their corrupt system.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Need all that time to have meetings and suck teeth and procrastinate.  also helps that it often leads to suspect breaking down and "confessing".

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The powers given to police and prosecutors to incarcerate suspects during an investigation without charging them are unique in the developed world

Maybe that's because Japan is not part of the developed world when it comes to human rights

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan is not the developed world, it is a 3rd word country on many levels, for example, it's disgraceful so called 'justice system' which is nothing of the sort.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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