Criminal psychologyIn my seminar, which is majoring in ``criminal cases'', we often deal with criminal trial precedents and investigation procedures. For this reason, we held an off-campus study session where students could observe court proceedings and gain a first-hand experience of the court system.
Article 82 of the Japanese Constitution states that ``trials and judgments shall be held in open court,'' and in principle anyone can observe the trial. However, there are very few people who have actually attended a trial, and none of my seminar students had that experience. Therefore, we decided to use the seminar time as an extracurricular activity in order to learn about actual courtroom interactions and experience the hearing procedures.
The Kobe District Court runs parallel to the Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office.
A suspect arrested by the police is referred to a public prosecutor (generally referred to the prosecutor's office), and after being interrogated by the public prosecutor, a request for detention is filed with the court in order to continue the investigation. Masu. For this reason, the Public Prosecutors Office also has a detention facility similar to that of the police. Suspects who are interrogated by prosecutors inside the public prosecutor's office building are detained in a parallel court. Therefore, you will have to go back and forth between the courthouse and the public prosecutor's office building. Of course, we were not allowed to enter the public prosecutor's office building, but we gave these explanations to the students on site. After seeing the building of the Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office, we had our belongings searched at the Kobe District Court entrance, and then entered the courthouse to observe the trial. In addition to the courtroom, check the counters where you can request so-called warrants, such as search and seizure permits for search and seizure conducted by police officers as part of their evidence collection activities, and arrest warrants necessary to arrest suspects. We also did
The trial is held every day. Of course, in addition to criminal cases, civil cases such as compensation for damages are also held. On the day we visited, a jury trial was being held for a man who was injured in a robbery, and we were able to observe the prosecutor questioning the defendant to confirm the facts of the indictment, that is, the crime. In my seminars, we often deal with the psychology of suspects and victims in criminal cases, and during this day's observation, we were able to hear from the defendant's mouth about the defendant's psychological state at the time of the crime. I was able to study. I was able to listen to the real voices of prosecutors and defendants in a real courtroom, which I had only seen on TV dramas, and it was a learning experience for me. The court's website provides detailed information on the court hearing procedure. Once you experience it, you will be able to participate without hesitation.
The Kobe District Court is located on the north side of JR Kobe Station and can be reached on foot from our university's Kobe Yamate Campus, making it possible to observe the court during free class time. I hope that students studying criminal psychology will continue to learn by observing trials.
