The Japan Federation of Bar Associations adopted a set of proposals on Juvenile Law reform Friday by formally endorsing a new juvenile justice system that would permit prosecutors' presence in juvenile trials under certain conditions.
The bar federation's executives approved a report recommending the revisions to the 49-year-old law as a counterproposal to revamp suggestions by the Supreme Court and the Justice Ministry.
The group's proposals include giving juvenile suspects an option to choose between two systems: the current system, which does not include prosecutors in the proceedings, and one that would allow prosecutors to participate only if the accused youths prefer it and if they are guaranteed due process by such means as a right to counter-argue and stricter rules for adopting evidence against the youths.
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