The total number of juvenile offenders newly received by public prosecutors offices in 2005 was 217,879 (the juvenile rate: 10.3%). Those for penal code offenses were 170,534 (13.6% (id.)), among which 134,468 (36.9% (id.)) were for non-traffic penal code offenses. Those for special act offenses were 47,345 (5.5% (id.)), among which 4,907 (4.2% (id.)) were for special act offenses excluding violations of road traffic related acts (Source: Annual Report of Statistics on Prosecution).
  Fig. 4-2-2-1 shows the number of juvenile offenders aged 14-19 newly received by public prosecutors offices (excluding those for negligence in the pursuit of social activities in traffic accidents and violations of road traffic related acts) by age group.
  The number of junior juveniles had been larger than that of other age groups since 1979, but intermediate juveniles have been the largest in number after surpassing junior juveniles in 1990.

Fig. 4-2-2-1  Number of juvenile offenders newly received by public prosecutors offices by age group (1975-2005)

  Looking at the percent ratio of juvenile offenders aged 14-19 newly received by public prosecutors offices in 2005 by type of delinquency and age group, the ratios were high for intermediate juveniles and senior juveniles for robbery, for intermediate juveniles for extortion and theft, and for senior juveniles for homicide, rape/forcible indecency, negligence in the pursuit of social activities in traffic accidents, and Stimulants Control Act violations (See Appendix 4-8).

  A public prosecutor can attach his/her opinion about the treatment of the juvenile when he/she refers a juvenile case to a family court (See Appendix 4-9 for opinions attached by public prosecutors for juveniles suitable for prosecution, commitment to a juvenile training schools, or probationary supervision).

  Table 4-2-2-2 shows the number of juveniles disposed by public prosecutors for those referred to public prosecutors by family courts in 2005, by type of offense.
  The percentage of those who were brought to indictment to the total prosecuted juveniles was rather low at 6.9%. This was because the percentage of those who were brought to indictment was extremely low at 0.7% among those prosecuted for violations of road traffic related acts, which accounted for nearly 90% of the total prosecuted juveniles. The percentage of those who were brought to indictment for offenses other than violations of road traffic related acts was 60.5% to the total, and 63.6% to the total penal code offenders and 34.5% to total special act offenders.

Table 4-2-2-2  Number of juveniles referred to and disposed by public prosecutors, by type of offense (2005)