Criminal interrogations to be recorded in Japan from June 1

April 16, 2019

Tokyo--The Japanese government at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday adopted an ordinance to mandate the recording of criminal suspect interrogations, effective from June 1.

Under the revised Code of Criminal Procedure, which will come into force the same day, suspect interrogations will be recorded for cases covered by lay judge trials and those handled at prosecutors' initiative.

At a news conference, Justice Minister Takashi said the law revision is aimed at changing the current system under which investigations and trials rely heavily on records of interrogations and making criminal proceedings fairer and more functional in line with the times. Jiji Press