Japan's Prosecution Review Commission

On the Democratic Oversight of Decisions Not To Charge
1. Auflage 2022
ISBN: 978-3-031-19372-9
Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland

Buch, Englisch, 208 Seiten, Format (B × H): 153 mm x 216 mm, Gewicht: 413 g

Reihe: Palgrave Advances in Criminology and Criminal Justice in Asia

This book explains Japan’s unique Prosecution Review Commission (PRC) which is composed of eleven lay people selected randomly from voter registration lists. Each of the country’s 165 PRCs reviews non-charge decisions made by professional prosecutors and determines which cases should be reinvestigated or charged. PRCs also provide prosecutors with general proposals and recommendations for improving their policies and practices. The book analyzes the history and operations of the PRC and uses statistics and case studies to examine its various impacts, from legitimation and shadow effects to kickbacks and mandatory prosecution.

More broadly, this book explores a problem that is common in many criminal justice systems: how to hold prosecutors accountable for their non-charge decisions. It discusses the potential these panels have for improving the quality of criminal justice in Japan and other countries, and it will appeal to scholars and students studying prosecution and democracy, criminal justice, criminology, lay participation, justice reform, and Japanese studies.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Johnson, David T.

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Kriminalsoziologie
• Rechtswissenschaften Strafrecht Kriminologie, Strafverfolgung
• Rechtswissenschaften Ausländisches Recht Asien (inkl. Türkei und Naher Osten)

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Prosecutors & the Prosecution Review Commission.- 2. Origins and Operations.- 3. Impacts.- 4. Mandatory Prosecution.- 5. The TEPCO Case. - 6. Lessons.

Über Autor(innen)

David T. Johnson is Professor of Sociology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA. He has published six previous books which have received numerous awards and honorable mentions.