Chapter 2 Consideration for Victims within the Criminal Justice System

In recent years the issue of crime victims has aroused a certain level of social concern, and hence the criminal justice agencies, etc. have been promoting various measures to provide them with support. The Basic Act on Crime Victims (Act No. 161 of 2004) was enforced in April 2005. The Basic Plan for Crime Victims, etc., which includes 258 specific measures within four basic policies and five priority tasks, was formulated in accordance with the said act to help realize a society in which the rights and interests of crime victims, etc. can be better protected, and the respective measures then implemented. Furthermore, the Second Basic Plan for Crime Victims, etc., which includes 241 specific measures, was formulated in March 2011 (the term of the Plan is until the end of FY 2015).