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Japan's police to keep eye on released sexual offenders
January 14, 2005
Japan's police are set to receive information on the whereabouts of sexual
offenders after they are released from prison in a basic agreement between
senior police and Justice Ministry officials.
The issue over whether police should be notified of sexual offenders'
residences came to light after a convicted sexual offender kidnapped and
apparently murdered a 7-year-old girl in Nara late last year.
Senior Justice Ministry officials told their National Police Agency
counterparts in talks on Thursday that they fundamentally agreed on giving
police departments information of those criminals after they are released.
"If (suspicious) adults accost children and local people are terrorized, we can
keep watch on sexual offenders after being informed of their residence
beforehand," said one of the NPA officials. "We can also talk with those sexual
offenders in an attempt to prevent them from committing further crimes."
In reply, a Justice Ministry official said that the ministry could give
relevant information to the NPA under strict rules, as this kind of information
exchange would serve the public interest.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was in favor of the move on Thursday.
"I think police need to know information on criminals in a bid to prevent a
recurrence of their crimes. The general public have a deep fear of such
(sexual) crimes," Koizumi said.
Officials from the NPA and the Justice Ministry are now set to talk more about
details such as what kind of information the ministry will give police.
Justice Ministry officials, however, are reluctant about the idea of informing
the general public about sexual offenders' residence after their release in
consideration of their rights.
Officials from police and the ministry will study systems in foreign countries
such as the United States and South Korea where the governments inform the
general public of the residences of sexual offenders.
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Koizumi
supports tracking the address of convicted sexual offenders
1-12-2005
Arrest
spurs debate on naming sex offenders in Japan
1-1-2005
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