The government officially decided Friday to start a new system to provide comprehensive support for victims of serious crimes or bereaved families of such victims on Jan. 13, 2026.

The commencement date for a revised law stipulating the implementation of the system was approved at a Cabinet meeting.

Under the relief system, which would be available to crime-affected people who are expecting difficulties in making a living, lawyers introduced by the Japan Legal Support Center, also known as Houteras, will undertake such tasks as filing damage reports and criminal complaints, negotiating settlements and seeking damages in court.

The government plans to recognize the eligibility for the assistance, basically free of charge, if an applicant's current assets do not exceed ¥3 million ($20,240), people familiar with the matter said.

The revised comprehensive legal support law, enacted in April 2024, says victims of fatal offenses, such as homicide, sexual assault and death caused by dangerous driving, are covered by the new system.

At the Friday meeting, the Cabinet also adopted a government ordinance stipulating similar aid for those who were injured due to deliberate criminal acts, including robbery and reckless driving, and need more than three months to recover or became eligible for disability benefits.

Crime victims or bereaved families can be swamped with post-incident police interviews and negotiations with perpetrators, sometimes seeing their income stop to the point where they are unable to hire lawyers. Although Houteras offers a program to temporarily shoulder lawyer fees, its scope is limited.

The government has increasingly been urged to enhance public assistance for people affected by serious crimes, experts said.