This Act, which was put into force on January 1, 2005, comprises the following contents so as to appropriately deal with serious crimes including heinous crimes: (1) the maximum term for imprisonment with work with a definite term shall be raised from 15 years to 20 years, that for punishment with aggravated reasons from 20 years to 30 years; and that for imprisonment with work with a definite term in the case where a death penalty or life imprisonment was reduced to imprisonment with work with a definite term, from 15 years to 30 years, and (2) statutory penalties for homicide, injury, injury causing death, dangerous driving causing death or injury, rape, and forcible indecency shall be raised and the new offense category of gang rape shall be established.
  Table 6-3-3-1 shows sentencing for homicide, robbery causing death or injury, and rape at the scene of a robbery in the court of first instance, over the last three years.

Table 6-3-3-1  Sentencing for homicide, robbery causing death or injury, and rape at the scene of a robbery in the court of first instance (2003-2005)

  In 2005, imprisonment with a definite term over 20 years, which became possible after the enforcement of this Act, was sentenced to one person for homicide and two persons for robbery causing death or injury or rape at the scene of a robbery. In the same year, the number of persons sentenced to imprisonment for "over 15 years to 20 years or less" for homicide and for robbery causing death or injury or rape at the scene of a robbery both increased significantly, compared to the years 2003 and 2004.