NCJ Number
154791
Journal
Social Justice Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1994) Pages: 110-135
Date Published
1994
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This study uses data from INTERPOL for the time period of 1950-1988 to reconsider Japanese crime rates; the analysis focuses on similarities rather than differences between Japan and other advanced societies.
Abstract
The study found that the level of crime rates has not always been lower in Japan than in other industrialized countries. Japan's low-crime reputation is a relatively recent development that began in the late 1960's. Japanese crime patterns are, in fact, consistent with those of other advanced countries in that there is a small proportion of violent crimes, with property crimes predominating. While Japan's rate of homicide is low compared with other Western societies, Japan's rate of unexpected deaths, which encompasses homicides, traffic accidents, industrial accidents, and suicides, is near the median among the industrial societies selected for this comparative analysis. 8 figures, 5 tables, 10 notes, and 22 references