Justice Minister Makoto Taki on Sept. 7 asked his ministry's Legislative Council to consider revising the Juvenile Law to make punishment more severe for juvenile criminals. The council members should carefully study the matter by fully taking into account the principle of the Juvenile Law, whose main purpose is to facilitate the healthy development of juveniles. They also should pay attention to the view held by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and law scholars that strict punishment hampers the reform of minors.
The primary reason for the justice minister's request is to change a provision in the Juvenile Law that says that imprisonment for an indeterminate term with a set upper limit should be given in cases in which a definite term of imprisonment of three years or longer would normally be given to adult criminals. There are two categories. One is an indeterminate term whose upper limit is five years and the other whose upper limit is 10 years. Mr. Taki asked the Legislative Council to consider whether it is appropriate to lengthen the upper limit to 10 years and 15 years, respectively.
Behind his request are voices among survivors and bereaved families of victims of crimes committed by minors that the punishment meted out to them is too lenient. Such feelings are also reflected by lay-judges who take part in the criminal trials of minors.