Inmates who are dissatisfied with their treatment in penal institutions may file their complaints as civil or administrative lawsuits, criminal complaints or charges, or notification of human rights violation. Furthermore, they may also file petitions to the Minister of Justice or request interviews by the warden of the institution under the old Prison Act. This system is now applied only to untried inmates.
  Table 2-4-2-4 shows the trend of grievances filed by all inmates including those under the old Prison Act, over the last five years.

Fig. 2-4-2-4  Grievances filed by inmates (2001-2005)

  As new grievance systems under the Inmates Treatment Act, systems for request for inspection, request for re-inspection, report of facts, and submission of complaints were introduced and have come to be applied to sentenced inmates.
  Request for inspection can be filed to the head of the Regional Correction Headquarters in writing when an inmate is dissatisfied with certain measures undertaken by the warden of the institution. Request for re-inspection can be filed to the Minister of Justice in writing when an inmate is dissatisfied with the decision for the request for inspection. A report of facts is to be made to the head of the Regional Correction Headquarters or the Minister of Justice in writing with regard to the use of illegal physical power on his/her body by staff of penal institutions. Inmates are first required to make a report to the head of the Regional Correction Headquarters and receive a notification confirming the fact from the head of the Regional Correction Headquarters. He/she then can make a report of facts in writing to the Ministry of Justice if he/she is not satisfied with said notification. Complaints can be submitted to the Minister of Justice or the warden of the institution with regard to measures or other treatment undertaken for him/her by the warden of the institution.