Japan: Guilty Until Proven Innocent
A look at Japan’s justice system as forced confessions and wrong convictions threaten to taint law enforcement agencies.
Japan is famous for having one of the safest societies in the world, with exceptionally low levels of crime.
But does this clean image hide a darker side?
The country’s criminal courts have almost a 100 percent conviction rate.
But justice in Japan relies on confessions, and police and prosecutors have been accused of abusing their authority.
With advances in forensic and DNA technology, an increasing number of wrongful convictions are coming to light, proving that innocent people have been imprisoned, sometimes for life.
101 East asks: Is justice being served in Japan?
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Published On 6 Oct 2016