The Law for Implementation of the saiban-ins System in Criminal Court Procedure was promulgated.This system,actualizing the participation of the general public in the justice system,will be put into practice by May2009.
  Offenses covered by criminal trials with participation of saiban-ins are restricted to cases punishable by death or life imprisonment with or without labor(item-1cases),and judicial panel cases in which the victim dies by an intentional criminal act excluding those falling under item-1cases(item-2cases). Table1-1-4-1 shows the number of defendants falling under this category,by type of offense,among those finally disposed in the first instance by district courts over the last three years.
  The total number has been around3,000each year,and in2004,robbery resulting in injury had the highest percentage(26.8%),followed by homicide(24.0%),arson of inhabited structure(9.0%),injury resulting in death(8.4%),and rape resulting in death or injury(8.2%).

Table1-1-4-1  Number of defendants finally disposed in the first instance for offenses covered by criminal trials with participation of saiban-ins(2002-2004)