The Legislative Council of the Justice Ministry has handed Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama a report proposing that crime victims or family members of crime victims be allowed to attend juvenile court proceedings. In accordance with the proposal, the ministry plans to submit a bill revising the Juvenile Law to the current Diet session by March 31.
Although the proposal is part of the effort to expand the rights of crime victims and their family members, it carries the danger of running counter to the spirit of the Juvenile Law.
According to the report of the advisory body, if crime victims or family members of crime victims submit requests to the family court, the court will determine whether to allow their presence at juvenile proceedings by considering such factors as age, the physical and psychological conditions of the offenders, and the type of crime. Such requests can be submitted when minors have killed or injured people intentionally or through negligence.
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