The Osaka Bar Association said Saturday it has requested local police and prosecutors to contact it whenever investigators detain and question mentally disabled people as part of efforts to prevent false charges against them.

The Osaka Prefectural Police said they are examining the request, while the Osaka District Public Prosecutor's Office has not responded, the association said. The prosecutors declined to comment.

The association started a study session in 2009 to make its member lawyers aware that the mentally disabled may be strung along by investigators and may not properly understand their legal rights, such as the right to remain silent and to have legal representation.

Around 50 lawyers have completed the session so far and are ready to work for the mentally disabled, the association said. The Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office decided in July to film all questioning of mentally disabled suspects. A total of 84 such interrogations had been reported nationwide as of the end of September.