White Paper on Crime 2024 Part2/Chapter2
Judicial police officers are to refer every criminal case to public prosecutors, except [1] cases subject to disposition as trivial offenses (certain minor offenses committed by those aged 20 years old or older with particularly strong mitigating factors that satisfy public prosecutors’ predesignated criteria, are not required to be referred to public prosecutors pursuant to the proviso stipulated by Article 246 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Act No. 131 of 1948)) and [2] those of certain violations of the Road Traffic Act that are subject to Hansokukin (administrative fine).
Public prosecutors investigate cases referred by the police or special judicial police officers. In addition, public prosecutors may institute an investigation, on their own initiative if necessary, or in response to a complaint or accusation directed to them. In concluding the investigation, they decide whether or not to prosecute a suspect, on the basis of factors such as whether or not his/her act constitutes an offense and punishment is required on his/her case.