Section 2 Treatment of Juvenile Cases at a Public Prosecutors Office/Court
1 Investigation (until referral to a family court)
(1) Suspects received
The number of juvenile offenders newly received by public prosecutors was 134,947 (juvenile rate of 9.1%) in 2011. That for penal code offenses was 109,883 (11.4% (id.)), of which 87,629 (30.3% (id.)) were for non-traffic penal code offenses and 22,254 (3.3% (id.)) for negligence in vehicle driving causing death or injury, etc. That for special act offenses was 25,064 (4.8% (id.)), of which 2,512 (2.6% (id.))) were for special act offenses excluding violations of road traffic related acts (Source: Annual Report of Statistics on Prosecution).
Fig. 3-2-2-1 shows the number of juvenile offenders newly received by public prosecutors (limited to non-traffic penal code offenses and special act offenses excluding violations of road traffic related acts) and the rate per population by age group since 1975. The number was the largest with intermediate juveniles from 1990 through to 2008 and with junior juveniles from 2009. The rate per population was also high with these age groups.
Fig. 3-2-2-1 Number of juvenile offenders newly received by public prosecutors and rate per population by age group (1975-2011)
Examining the percent distribution of juvenile offenders newly received by public prosecutors in 2011 by age group and type of offense revealed that junior juveniles were the largest in number for injury, intermediate juveniles for extortion, and senior juveniles for homicide, negligence in vehicle driving causing death or injury, etc., violations of road traffic related acts, and Stimulants Control Act violations. In addition, junior and intermediate juveniles accounted for a high proportion for theft and intermediate and senior juveniles for robbery (See Appendix 3-8).
(2) Referral to a family court
Public prosecutors can attach opinion about disposition they consider the most appropriate when referring juvenile cases to family courts. See Appendix 3-9 for the status with the opinions of public prosecutors about disposition of juveniles, etc.