3 ms·
The short version of the Japanese justice system is "Guilty until proved innocent", instead of (as in most modern countries) "Innocent until proved guilty". In
by Tor3 5mo ago
The short version of the Japanese justice system is "Guilty until proved innocent", instead of (as in most modern countries) "Innocent until proved guilty". In addition to that, focus is much more on confessions instead of investigation - the latter exists of course, and is used for finding the culprit (as happened when we had a burglary at our house. They got the guy one year later). When someone is in custody though.. then it's about getting a confession.
This can definitely be problematic, particularly when considering the conditions during custody. No lawyer.. or much of anything, except massive psychological pressure.
- Tor3 5mo agoAnd today I read an article in a Japanese newspaper about an innocent woman who was detained for two years, because an interpreter translated a word incorrectly. And, apparently, deliberately. It finally went to court after two years (one must wonder how this is possible..) and was aquitted (with a comment that translation is supposed to be accurate and faithful). In the same article it was described how interpreters would believe that their job was to extract a confession. Recently an organization is trying to educate interpreters in ethics and what an interpreter's job actually is - to translate, and only translate.