Japanese Media: Over 80% of Criminal Cases Involving U.S. Forces in Japan Not Prosecuted

According to a report by Reference News Network on September 15, the Japanese newspaper "Akahata" reported on September 13 that it has been learned that in 2025, over 80% of general criminal offenses (excluding cases of injury or death caused by negligent driving, etc.) committed by U.S. military personnel (including soldiers, civilian employees, and their families) in Japan went unprosecuted. The prosecution rate for U.S. military personnel is less than half of the overall prosecution rate, including Japanese citizens, highlighting the privileges granted by the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. 60% of the criminal offenses committed by U.S. military personnel are concentrated in Okinawa Prefecture.

Data from the Ministry of Justice shows that in 2025, the overall prosecution rate for general criminal offenses, including those involving Japanese citizens, rose to 37.7%. However, among the general criminal offenses involving U.S. military personnel, only 21 were prosecuted (a prosecution rate of 15.7%), while a staggering 113 were not prosecuted (an unprosecuted rate of 84.3%).

The phenomenon of U.S. military personnel in Japan being involved in cases but mostly not being prosecuted has a long history, primarily due to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement and a secret agreement regarding the waiver of criminal jurisdiction. This agreement clearly states that incidents involving U.S. military personnel "in the performance of their duties" are subject to U.S. primary jurisdiction; while incidents occurring "outside the performance of their duties" are subject to Japanese primary jurisdiction.

However, according to a secret agreement reached by the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee in 1953, Japan promised not to exercise jurisdiction except in cases deemed to have substantial significance. (Translated by Liu Lin)