The Law Concerning Compensation for Damage to Witnesses, etc. was promulgated on April 30, 1958, and came into force in July 1958, in conjunction with a partial amendment of the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, under circumstances where many vicious crimes were being committed by organized crime groups and violent offenses, such as bodily injury, assault, etc. were committed against witnesses, unsworn witnesses, or their family or relatives, etc. in the course of investigation or a formal trial on such offenses.
  The Law provides that, where witnesses or unsworn witnesses of criminal cases or their relatives are killed or injured in connection with their statements or their appearance at the courts, judges or investigating authorities, or where official defense counsels or their relatives suffer similar damage as they perform or attempt to perform their duties, the government shall pay benefits for medical treatment, injury or sickness, disability, bereavement, funerals and so forth. A partial amendment to the Law, effective since April 1, 1996, provides for a new system of nursing care benefits for victims who receive necessary care as a result of injury that is to be covered by injury/sickness benefits or disability benefits.
  From the enforcement of this law to 2001, benefits had been paid in 5 cases (Criminal Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Justice).