Fig. 2-2-4-1 shows the change in percentage distribution of persons prosecuted or not prosecuted by public prosecutors and the number of persons prosecuted for formal trials in the last10years.

Fig. 2-2-4-1 Change in percent distribution of persons prosecuted or not prosecuted by public prosecutors and number of persons prosecuted for formal trials(1994-2003)

  In 2003,the total persons finally disposed were2,179,363.Some146,497persons(6.7%of the total)were prosecuted for formal trials,787,157(36.1%)were prosecuted for summary orders,939,158(43.1%)were granted suspension of prosecution,54,393(2.5%)were not prosecuted for other reasons,and252,158(11.6%)were referred to family courts(see Appendix2-2 ).
  Persons prosecuted for formal trials have increased continuously for the last nine years.In2003,they have increased by7,017since2002,by54,504since1994.The percentage of prosecution for formal trials has also increased gradually,from4.3%in1994to6.7%in2003(see Appendix2-2 ).
  Fig. 2-2-4-2 and Fig. 2-2-4-3 show trends in prosecution rate and suspended prosecution rate over the last20years by type of offense.Prosecution rate was48.4%and suspended prosecution rate was50.1%in2003.For overall cases,prosecution rate has been on a downward trend while suspended prosecution rate has been on an upward trend.For non-traffic penal code offenses,both rates have been as stable as the prosecution rate of between50%and60%and suspended prosecution rate of between30%and40%(see Appendix2-3 ).

Fig. 2-2-4-2Trend in prosecution rates by type of offense(1984-2003)

Fig. 2-2-4-3Trend in suspended prosecution rates by type of offense(1984-2003)

  Table 2-2-4-4 shows the number of suspects who were not prosecuted for offenses excluding professional negligence in traffic accidents and road traffic violations by reason for non-prosecution over the last10years.In2003,those suspects who were granted suspension of prosecution increased by12,687from2002to88,560(72.8%of the total)while those suspects who were not prosecuted on the grounds of being insane decreased by28from2002to400(0.3%of the total).In recent years,the percentage of suspended prosecution has been between70%and74%,slightly lower than before,while the percentage of non-prosecution due to lack or insufficiency of evidence has been almost20%,slightly higher than before.

Table 2-2-4-4 Number of suspects who were not prosecuted,by reason(1994-2003)

Explanation of terms

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Quasi-prosecution procedure: Under this system,the complainant or accuser who is dissatisfied with the non-prosecution disposition for abuse of authority of public officials decided by the public prosecutor can apply for committing the case to a court for trial.The court shall decide to commit the case for trial when the court considers it as appropriate,thereby a prosecusion is deemed to be instituted.This system is also called the system of application for committing a case to a court for trial.

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Prosecution rate: This is an indication of the following as a percentage:number of suspects prosecuted/(number of suspects prosecuted+number of suspects not prosecuted).The number of suspects prosecuted includes suspects prosecuted both for formal trials and for summary orders.

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Suspended prosecution rate: This is an indication of the following as a percentage:number of suspects granted suspension of prosecution/(number of suspects prosecuted+number of suspects granted suspension of prosecution).It does not include suspects who were not prosecuted for a reason other than suspension of prosecution.The suspended prosecution rate shows what percentage of suspects was granted suspension of prosecution among those whose guilty were deemed sufficiently proved.