2 Trends in cases to be covered by Saiban-in trials

  Table 6-2-2 shows the number of persons finally disposed in the first instance for cases to be covered by Saiban-in trials, by type of offense, over the last five years.

Table 6-2-2  Number of persons finally disposed in the first instance for cases to be covered by Saiban-in trials, by type of offense (2003–2007)

  In 2007, the number of persons finally disposed for cases to be covered by Saiban-in trials totaled 2,436 (down 15.4% from the previous year), accounting for 3.4% of the number of persons finally disposed in the first instance at district courts. By type of offense, those finally disposed for robbery causing injury were the largest in number with 611 (25.1%), followed by those for homicide with 590 (24.2%), and those for arson of inhabited buildings with 265 (10.9%).
  Fig. 6-2-3 [1] shows the percent distribution of persons finally disposed in the first instance for cases to be covered by Saiban-in trials, by number of times of trials in 2007.

Fig. 6-2-3  Percent distribution of persons finally disposed in the first instance for cases to be covered by Saiban-in trials, by number of times of trials (2007)

  Those for which trials were held three times or less accounted for 47.9% of the total while those for which trials were held five times or less was 73.2% (id.). The average was 5.2 times, taking 7.8 months on average after prosecution. The Saiban-in Act defines that cases covered by Saiban-in trials shall be brought to pretrial conference procedure. Fig. 6-2-3 [2] shows the percentage of persons finally disposed in the first instance for cases to be covered by Saiban-in trials which were brought to pretrial conference procedure in 2007 by number of trials. Those for which trials were held three times or less accounted for 64.2% of the total while those for which trials were held five times or less was 86.2% (id.). The average was 3.6 times, taking 6.1 months on average after prosecution. This indicates that the number of trials held and the period after prosecution both are reduced through arranging the main point of the case using the pretrial conference procedure (Source: The General Secretariat, Supreme Court).
  Table 6-2-4 shows the sentencing for persons convicted in the first instance in 2007 for cases to be covered by Saiban-in trials, by type of offense.

Table 6-2-4  Sentencing in the first instance for cases to be covered by Saiban-in trials, by type of offense (2007)

  Of 344 cases granted suspension of execution of sentence, 107 cases (31.1%) were placed under probationary supervision (Source: The General Secretariat of the Supreme Court).