Victim Compensation Programs: Japan

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Directory of International Crime Victim Compensation Programs 2004 - 2005

Japan

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

Eligibility Requirements

Report to police. Yes.

Filing period. Within 2 years from the day the applicant reports the crime and 7 years from the day the crime is committed.

Foreign citizen eligibility. Citizens of foreign countries are eligible to apply for compensation if the victim was a legal resident of Japan at the time of the crime. Tourists and visitors are not eligible.

Claimants

•	Victims of violent crime who suffer serious injuries

•	Dependents of deceased victims if they legally reside in Japan

Procedures

The police must verify the victimization. A claimant can obtain an application from any police station or prefectural police department. The claimant should send the application to the prefectural public safety commission through the police station or the prefectural police department that has jurisdiction over the address of the claimant. It takes approximately 5 months for the applicant to be notified of the decision, and it takes approximately 2 more weeks for the applicant to receive the benefit.

Benefits and Award Limits

•	Survivor Benefit for Death. Provides reimbursement for medical expenses incurred prior to the death: ¥10,790,000 (¥15,730,000 for crimes committed after July 1, 2001)

•	Incapacity Benefit: ¥12,730,000 (¥18,492,000 for crimes committed after July 1, 2001)

•	Scholarships are available through the Crime Victims' Relief Fund for bereaved children.

Compensable costs. None. The program provides lump sum awards only.

Emergency awards. If the program cannot quickly render a judgment because the offender is unknown or the degree of disability is unclear, the program may offer an unspecified provisional benefit to the applicant.

Funding sources. The program is funded by the national government.

Contact Information

Information National Public Safety Commission, National Police Agency, Office for Victims of Crime
Pay and Welfare Section, 2-1-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8974, Japan
Telephone: 81-3-3581-0141, ext. 2811
Fax: 81-3-3580-1009
Internet: www.npa.go.jp/english/index.htm (in English)

Languages used—
• On application forms: Japanese
• In correspondence: Japanese
• By telephone: Japanese

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