The first instance at district and family courts is carried out through ordinary trial procedure (including prompt trial procedure on or after October 2, 2006) and the first instance at summary courts is carried out through either ordinary trial procedure or summary trial procedure.
  Table 2-3-1-2 shows the number of defendants finally disposed by district and family courts in 2006 by type of offense. Table 2-3-1-3 shows the number of defendants finally disposed (through either the ordinary or summary trial procedure) by the summary courts in the same year by type of offense.

Table 2-3-1-2  Number of defendants finally disposed in district and family courts, by type of offense (2006)

  Among defendants finally disposed in the first instance of district courts in 2006, those for theft were the largest in number, accounting for 16.4% of the total, followed by those for Stimulants Control Act violations (15.3%), negligence in the pursuit of social activities (10.3%), and violations of road traffic related Acts (9.0%).
  Among persons finally disposed by family courts for adult criminal cases in 2006, 88.1% were for Child Welfare Act violations.

Table 2-3-1-3  Number of defendants finally disposed in summary courts (2006)

  Looking at defendants finally disposed by summary courts through ordinary trial procedure by type of offense in 2006, among those sentenced to imprisonment with work, 93.2% were for theft, and among those sentenced to fine, those for injury were the largest in number, accounting for 21.7%, followed by those for violations of road traffic related acts (21.6%).
  Looking at defendants punished with fines or petty fines through summary trial procedure by type of offense, violations of road traffic related acts accounted for 79.0%. “Act for Partial Amendment to the Penal Code and the Code of Penal Procedure” (Act No.36 of 2006) was enforced on May 28, 2006, which newly sets up the penalty of fine for theft, obstruction of performance of public duty, etc. In the same year, there were 2,399 persons and 656 persons punished with fine through summary trial procedure for theft and obstruction of performance of public duty respectively.