Section 2  Compensation for Crime Victims, etc.

1 Crime victim benefits system

  Based on the Act on Supports for Crime Victims, etc. Such as Payment of Crime Victims Benefit (Act No. 36 of 1980; the title of the Act was changed from the Act on Payment of Crime Victims Benefit in 2008), the government pays crime victim benefits to the bereaved families of persons killed in crimes and also to victims who have been seriously injured or disabled in crimes. In consideration of the Basic Act on Crime Victims and the Basic Plan for Crime Victims, the requirements for seriously injured or disabled crime victims being provided with benefits were relaxed, the period for which the benefit is provided extended, and restrictions on the benefit being provided in relation to crimes between relatives relaxed in April 2006. In addition, the system was further enhanced in July 2008 through providing additional benefits for persons with serious injuries/sicknesses through taking into consideration damages due to business suspensions, and benefits for persons with severe disabilities (grade 1 to 3) and benefits for bereaved families of the primary income providers have been raised.
  Table 5-2-2-1 shows the application for crime victim benefits and amounts paid for the damage of criminal offenses over the past five years.

Table 5-2-2-1  Applications for crime victim benefits and amounts paid (FY2003–FY2007)