Professor Inaba presents his statistical findings.
Originally published: Kyoto News
Publication date: June 13, 2019
Translated by: Alexis Agliano Sanborn
On June 15, 2019 Ritsumeikan University will hold an international symposium introducing the “Innocence Movement” to Japan. The Innocence Movement works to redress the wrongfully convicted through science and other means. The Ritsumeikan symposium will be an opportunity for citizens to assess criminal cases and “think about criminal justice issues in Japan from a scientific perspective”.
Innocence Project Japan (IPJ) is comprised of Kyoto lawyers and researchers and was established three years ago. IPJ aims to redress wrongful convictions on the basis of scientific evidence and evaluation.
IPJ models itself after the “Innocence Project,” an organization originally founded in the United States which provides pro bono support for the wrongfully convicted through scientific methods to prove innocence. Innocence Project Japan is currently applying for official membership to the “Innocence Project.” To date, IPJ has received more than 200 consultations from all over Japan, with select cases being recommended for a fully investigated retrial.
Professor Mitsuyuki Inaba (Informatics) at Ritsumeikan University's Faculty of Policy Science specializes in analyzing human language using computers. During the Kagoshima prefectural election, he was involved in the analysis of statutory records in an indemnification lawsuit by a former defendant in an abduction case (Shibushi case). In current practice the ‘confession record’ is adopted as one of the primary sources of evidence and often believed to not contain any errors in its collection. “Wrongful convictions will occur if judgement is not based on scientific and objective evidence. Unless we investigate the cause, we will continue to make the same mistakes as a society.”
At the symposium organizations from Taiwan and Thailand will also report on their work. The symposium will also explore DNA identification and scientific evidence by professors who have been involved with wrongful convictions cases. Lastly, exonoree Shoji Sakurai of the Futagawa case and other exonorees will didscuss criminal justice issues and their personal experience.