The Japan Federation of Bar Associations will launch a bail bond system as early as next July for cash-strapped defendants who lack the funds to post their own bail while awaiting a criminal trial, federation officials said Friday.

Under the new system, the Japan Lawyers Cooperative would act as guarantor and would post bail of up to ¥3 million for defendants. The cooperative also would have to submit to the court a written promise to pay the required amount should the defendant fail to fulfill the terms of the bail. The defendant would pay a nonrefundable fee of 2 percent of the bail paid.

The federation hopes the new system, to be introduced after discussions with the Supreme Court and the Justice Ministry, will help increase the rate of defendants in criminal cases who are released on bail to about 50 percent. The current rate is just 18 percent.