Article 1The purpose of this Act is to promote the measures for Crime Victims comprehensively and systematically, and to protect the Crime Victims' rights and interests, by clarifying the Basic Principles, specifying the responsibilities of the State, local governments, and fellow citizens, and defining contents that will be the foundation for the Measures for Crime Victims.

Article 2(1)The term "Crimes" as used in this Act will mean Crimes and equivalent acts that have caused emotional or physical harm to the victim.

(2)The term "Crime Victims" as used in this Act will mean persons, family or bereaved family who have suffered damages from these Crimes.

(3)The term "Measures for Crime Victims" as used in this Act will mean the process to provide Crime Victims with the proper help and care in order for them to fully alleviate and recover from the suffering they have incurred, and for them to participate in the process in order to restore their normal life again.

Article 3(1)All Crime Victims' individual dignity will be respected and the appropriate measures of treatment will be taken accordingly.

(2)The Measures for Crime Victims are to consider the cause and circumstances of the crime, and take appropriate action according to the Crime Victims' situation and other external factors.

(3)The Measures for Crime Victims are to begin from the time the Crime Victims receive the necessary support right after the Crime, until they restore their normal life again.

Article 4The State is to be responsible for comprehensively formulating and implementing Measures for Crime Victims in line with the Basic Principles described in the preceding Article (referred to as "Basic Principles" in the next Article).

Article 5Local governments are responsible for formulating and implementing these measures considered in accordance with the area of the local government, in line with the Basic Principles, with the roles divided appropriately within the State.

Article 6Citizens must be considerate of the Crime Victims' situation, not to dishonor or disturb their peaceful life, and cooperate with the Measures for Crime Victims implemented by the State and local governments.

Article 7The State, local governments, other related organizations such as the Japan Legal Support Center (the Japan Legal Support Center provided in Article 13 of the Comprehensive Legal Support Act (Act No. 74 of 2004)), and other related parties such as private entities that provide support to Crime Victims must cooperate with one another for smooth implementation of the Measures for Crime Victims.

Article 8(1)The Government must establish a Basic Plan concerning the Measures for Crime Victims (hereinafter referred to as the "Basic Plan for Crime Victims"), in order to promote the Measures for Crime Victims comprehensively and systematically.

(2)The Basic Plan for Crime Victims is to cover the following particulars.

(3)The Prime Minister must seek a cabinet decision on a draft of the Basic Plan for Crime Victims.

(4)When a cabinet decision is made under the preceding paragraph, the Prime Minister must publicly announce the Basic Plan for Crime Victims without delay.

(5)The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs are to apply mutatis mutandis to the changes of the Basic Plan for Crime Victims.

Article 9The Government must take necessary legislative, financial, and any additional measures to obtain this Act.

Article 10The Government must submit reports on the Measures for Crime Victims discussed by the Government to the Diet every year.

Article 11The State and local governments are to take the necessary measures to provide counselling to Crime Victims for every problem they encounter, offer necessary information and advice, while introducing a person who specializes in helping Crime Victims, in order for them to assimilate, and allow them back to leading a normal life in society again.

Article 12The State and local governments are to take the necessary measures to help Crime Victims when they go to claim for damages, assisting in the expansion of the system for organic coordination with criminal procedures jeopardizing their safety, in order to ensure a smooth and efficient process of claims for damages.

Article 13The State and local governments are to take the necessary measures to improve the system for how Crime Victims receive payments, in order for Crime Victims to alleviate their economic hardship incurred from the Crimes.

Article 14The State and local governments are to take the necessary measures to provide Crime Victims with appropriate healthcare, and welfare services according to their mental and physical conditions, in order for Crime Victims to recover from psychological, mental, and physical trauma incurred from the Crimes.

Article 15The State and local governments are to take necessary measures to take Crime Victims into temporary protective custody, provide accommodation in facilities for protection, and guide them on Crime prevention, with special arrangements made when they are involved with criminal procedures jeopardizing their safety as a witness, and appropriate handling of their personal information ensured, in order for Crime Victims to prevent Crime Victims from being vulnerable in the future, while securing their safety.

Article 16The State and local governments are to take the necessary measures to give Crime Victims special consideration when moving into public housing (public housing provided in Article 2, item (ii) of the Act on Public Housing) (Act No. 193 of 1951), in order to stabilize residence for Crime Victims who have difficulties in continuing to live in their prior housing due to Crimes.

Article 17The State and local governments are to take the necessary measures to inform employers to obtain understanding of the current situation of Crime Victims, in order for them to receive stable working conditions.

Article 18The State and local governments are to take the necessary measures to provide information concerning the progress of criminal procedures, and develop a system that actively expands opportunities for Crime Victims to participate in them.

Article 19In order to alleviate the stress and burden of Crime Victims during the process of protection, investigation, and trial to Crime Victims, with consideration to the human rights such as restoring peace in their life while keeping their honor in mind, the State and local governments will take the necessary measures to conduct the training and education to gain a better understanding of Crime Victims' situation and circumstances, while providing professional experts or trained workers with experience on Crime Victims as well as facilities,

Article 20The State and local governments are to take the necessary measures to educate the public on better understanding Crime Victims through education and Personal Relation activities, and the importance of restoring peace in their life while keeping their honor in mind.

Article 21In order to provide the appropriate aid to Crime Victims through the use of expert knowledge, the State and local governments are to take the necessary measures in facilitating research and study on psychological trauma and other mental and physical effects that Crime Victims suffered due to these Crimes, and the method in order to recover the Crime Victims mental and physical health, while collecting, sorting, and utilizing data from domestic and foreign sources, and providing training and enhancement of the skills of current qualified professionals who work with Crime Victims.

Article 22In view of the importance of roles private entities play in providing various kinds of support to Crime Victims, the State and local governments are encouraged to take necessary measures to offer information and introduce financial and tax measures in order to promote support activities by private entities.

Article 23The State and local governments are to take the necessary measures to develop a system to reflect the Crime Victims' opinions in the Measures for Crime Victims and secure transparency during the process of establishing these measures, in order to contribute to the proper establishment and implementation.

Article 24(1)The Council for the Promotion of Policies for Crime Victims (hereinafter referred to as the "Council") will be established as a special organization in the Cabinet Office.

(2)The Council covers the following affairs:

Article 25The Council will consist of a chairperson and 10 or less members.

Article 26(1)The Chief Cabinet Secretary will serve as chairperson.

(2)The Chairperson will comprehensively administrate council affairs.

(3)In the event that the chairperson is in an accident, a previously designated member will substitute for the chairperson.

Article 27(1)The following persons will serve as members of the Council.

(2)Members described in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph will serve on a part-time basis.

Article 28(1)The term of office for members described in paragraph (1), item (ii) of the preceding Article will be two years.However, alternates will serve the remainder of their predecessors' term.

(2)Members described in paragraph (1), item (ii) of the preceding Article can be reappointed.

Article 29(1)The Council will be able to request the chiefs of related administrative organs to submit documents, expound opinions, make explanations, or offer other input, when acknowledged as necessary for pursuing affairs under its jurisdiction.

(2)The Council will be able to request to persons other than those stipulated in the preceding paragraph to offer necessary cooperation, when acknowledged as necessary for pursuing affairs under its jurisdiction.

Article 30Necessary particulars on the organization and operation of the Council other than those that are defined in this chapter will be defined by Cabinet Order.