4 Consideration for victims in juvenile cases

With regard to juvenile cases the Juvenile Act was amended (by Act No. 142 of 2000) and measures have been implemented since April 2001 to allow victims, etc. to inspect/copy the records of juvenile cases and to request to express their opinions and to be informed of the results of hearings, etc. In addition, the Juvenile Act was then again amended (by Act No. 71 of 2008) in thereby further protecting the rights and benefits of victims, etc. The amendment expanded the range of subjects who can express opinions from July 8, 2008. The amendment also resulted, from December 15, 2008, in a system that enabled victims, etc. of certain serious cases to attend juvenile hearings and a system in which family courts would explain the status of hearings to victims, etc., while at the same time relaxing the requirements for and expanding the scope of inspections and the copying of records of juvenile cases. In 2010, 966 victims, etc. filed requests to inspect/copy the records of juveniles cases (of which 946 were deemed appropriate), 278 requests to express opinions (267 (id.)), and 1,239 requests for notification of the results of hearings (1,231 (id)). In addition, victims, etc. were allowed to attend juvenile hearings in 66 cases (141 persons) and explanations provided on the status of hearings to 517 victims, etc. in 2010 (Source: The General Secretariat, Supreme Court).

Furthermore, and in accordance with the enhanced notification system for victims, etc. (See the previous subsection) since December 2007, victims, etc. have been notified of matters regarding the status of the treatment, etc. of juvenile perpetrators under protective measures. Victims, etc. may be notified of, upon request, the name of the juvenile training school where juvenile perpetrators are being detained, the status of their training at that juvenile training school, their date of release, and the reason for their release by the directors of juvenile training schools, matters regarding the commencement of parole examinations and decisions by Regional Parole Boards, and any other matters regarding the commencement/status/termination of probation/parole supervision of juvenile probationers and juvenile training school parolees by the directors of probation offices. In 2010 notifications were made in a total of 242 cases regarding treatment at juvenile training schools, 95 regarding parole examinations, and 428 regarding the status of probation/parole supervision (Source: The Correction Bureau and the Rehabilitation Bureau, Ministry of Justice).