JAPAN

The National Public Safety Commission

2/1, 2Chome, Kasumigaseki,

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100

Japan

Phone: 03(3581)0141

Fax: 03(3580)1009

Japan has a crime victim compensation program to provide financial compensation to victims of violent or personal crime.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Report to Police: Yes; no time limit.

Filing Period: Within 2 years from the day the applicant recognizes the crime, and within 7 years from the day the crime is committed.

CLAIMANTS

Victims of crime who suffer serious injuries

Dependents of deceased victims

Foreign citizens

PROCEDURES

The victim must report the crime to the police and the police must recognize the victimization. A claimant can obtain an application at any police headquarters or police station.

The claimant should send the application to the police headquarters that has the jurisdiction over the address of the claimant, or the police station of that headquarters. The length of time for a claimant to receive notification of the program's decision is dependent on the progress of the investigation. Compensation will be paid within a week or two after the decision has been made.

BENEFITS & AWARD LIMITS

The maximum awards in Yens are:

Bereaved Family Benefit -- 10.790.000 Incapacity Benefit -- 12.730.000

Compensable Costs

Lost wages

Lost support for dependents of deceased victims

EMERGENCY AWARDS

If the program cannot quickly render the judgement because the offender is unknown or the degree of disability is unclear, the program offers the provisional benefit to the applicant.

FUNDING SOURCES

The program is funded by the National Expenditure. For bereaved children, scholarships are available through the Crime Victims' Relief Fund.

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