2. General Victim Support Services

People never expect that they or their families would fall victim to a crime.

But when you become a victim, and even if you may be overwhelmed by the sudden incident, we still have to ask you to cooperate and ask you to come in to give a statement or testify in court.

You may wonder what you should do with the loss you suffered. You may feel anxiety about what will happen in the criminal procedures. But you don’t know who you can talk to.

To ease as much as possible, the worries and burdens of crime victims and their bereaved families, Victim Support Officers are available at Public Prosecutors Offices, providing support for victims of crime.

The supports of Victim Support Officers include such activities as responding to the various questions that victims may have, guiding and accompanying the victims in the courthouse and helping them with the access of the case records or have the evidence return to them. Victim Support Officers can also introduce victims to organizations that can provide psychological, economic and other forms of support, according to the victim’s needs.

To provide easy access for victims seeking advice or inquiries on the case, the Victim Support Hotline has been set up in all District Public Prosecutors Offices throughout Japan that have Victim Support Officers. It is also possible to use Victim Support Hotline via fax as well as by telephone. Hotline’s answering machines and facsimile are available at night time and holidays as well. We wish you make use of it.

Telephone numbers for Victim Support Hotlines in Public Prosecutors Offices nationwide can be found on “Victim Support Hotline Telephone and Fax Numbers.”

	How can I ask the Public Prosecutors Office for advice?

	Please call the Victim Support Hotline in the nearest Public Prosecutors Office. The Victim Support Officer will respond to you. It will be better to call us first and share your concerns beforehand even if you prefer to seek advice in person. After hearing your concern, we can provide you with information and advice or introduce other support organization that will address your concern and ease your worries and anxieties.


	I would like to ask for advice, but I don’t have the courage right now to call the Victim Support Hotline. Can I ask for advice by fax?

	We truly believe that it takes a great deal of courage for a victim to express his/her worries or ask for help. For those who feel hesitation to ask for advice directly on the phone, please contact us by fax on the Victim Support Hotline.


	What kind of advice can the Public Prosecutors Office offer?

	We offer advice to crime victims and their families regarding all aspects of the criminal procedure. For example, we can explain or help with all kinds of procedures, such as inspecting case records or return of the evidence, so please feel free to contact us for help and advice. Although there are matters that Victim Support Officers cannot help you, in such cases, we will introduce you to an organization that may help you.


	Is personal information, for example, the content of the consultation in the Public Prosecutors Office, kept confidential?

	Please rest assured that we keep all personal information strictly confidential.


	Can you introduce me to organizations, other than the Public Prosecutors Office, that can offer support?

	Victims need various kind of support, including psychological, financial and lifestyle-related, so when necessary we will introduce you to the appropriate organization.


	I have attended the trial but I didn’t really understand what was going on. Can the Public Prosecutors Office explain to me about the court procedures?

	If you have any questions about the court procedure or other criminal procedure, please ask a Victim Support Officer.


	I am worried that, if I give a statement about the harm or testify at trial, the perpetrator will retaliate against me.

	Only victims can reveal the truth of the harm caused by crimes. If perpetrators are left unpunished, it is quite possible that they will go on to commit other offenses, creating new victims. Therefore, please gather your courage and cooperate with the investigation and trial. In order to prevent retaliations by the perpetrators, the Public Prosecutors Office shall have close contact with the police and make necessary arrangements.

We believe that victims and their families have deep interests in such matters as the deposition of the case, the procedure and the decision by court, and the treatment of the offenders in prison. Also, witnesses involved in the procedure may be interested in the deposition of the case or the trial.

Therefore, the Public Prosecutors Office has set up the Victim Notification System. For victims and their families, the Victim Notification System will provide such information as the deposition of the case, the outcome of the trial, treatment of the perpetrators in prison and the time of their release to the extent possible. For the witnesses, the system will provide such information as the deposition of the case, the outcome of the trial, and the time of their release to the extent possible.

	Who can receive notifications?

	The people who can receive notifications are: a. Victims, their families, co-habitee, fiance (fiancee) and others in a quasi-family relationship b. Witnesses (excluding some part of the notifications)


	What kind of information can be notified?

	The following information will be notified: a. Disposition of the case (Indictment, Request for summary order, Non-prosecution, Referral to Family Courts, etc.) b. Venue and time of the trial c. The results of the trial (conclusion section of the judgment, status on appeal) d. The perpetrator’s custody details, the indicted facts, summary of the reasons of non prosecution, and other matters similar to those listed in a to c e. The matters concerning the perpetrator after conviction is finalized ・ Name and location of the prison where the perpetrator is imprisoned ・ The possible schedule for release from prison (the scheduled date of release on completion of the sentence) after the prison sentence become final ・ Treatment of the perpetrator in prison (around once every six months) ・ The date when the perpetrator was actually released (release on completion of the sentence, parole) ・ The date when suspension of execution of sentence was revoked ・ The date when proceedings for parole were commenced ・ The date when a decision was made for granting parole ・ The date when probationary supervision was commenced and the scheduled end thereof ・ Treatment during probationary supervision (around once every six months) ・ The date when probationary supervision ended Custody details refer to whether a prisoner has been released or not, and the facts of indictment refer to what facts relating to the crime were included in the indictment. Information on the reasons of non-prosecution and/or the matters concerning the perpetrator after convictions is finalized (excluding the scheduled date of release on completion of the sentence and the date when the perpetrator was actually released) can be provided only to victims, their families and persons of similar status. * For notification after juvenile trials, please refer to “Victim Notification Scheme (after the juvenile hearing)”.

	Can notifications always be provided if requested?

	In cases where, due to circumstances, the public prosecutor decides that it would be best not to issue notifications, even if victims and others desire to receive them, notifications may contain only partial information or there may be no notifications at all.

	What do I need to do to receive notifications?

	Please tell the public prosecutor or public prosecutor’s assistant officer in charge, or Victim Support Officers that you would like to receive notifications, and what notifications you would like to receive. You will receive the notification you requested at a later date. When public prosecutors interview the victims and other witnesses, they use such opportunity to ask whether the victims desires notifications and, if so, what information. With regard to matters listed in item e. of Q2 above, a request form for a notification will be sent when notification of final judgment is sent to those who requested it. For matters listed in item d. of Q2 above, however, public prosecutors generally will not ask whether there is a request for notifications on such matters. So, if you would like to receive notifications about such matters listed in item d. of Q2 above, please tell the public prosecutor which matters you would like to receive notifications about. For witnesses interviewed in the Public Prosecutors Office, as a general rule, public prosecutors will not ask whether you would like to request notifications. So, if you would like to have notifications from the Public Prosecutors Office, you should ask for notifications.