検察官は、公訴を提起しようとする事件について、事案が明白であり、かつ、軽微であること、証拠調べが速やかに終わると見込まれることその他の事情を考慮し、相当と認めるときは、公訴の提起と同時に、書面により即決裁判手続の申立てをすることができる。ただし、死刑又は無期若しくは短期一年以上の拘禁刑に当たる事件については、この限りでない。
When a public prosecutor finds it appropriate with regard to the case in which the public prosecutor is to institute prosecution taking into account that the details of the factual background of the case are clear and the case is minor, that the examination of evidence is expected to be completed promptly and other circumstances, the public prosecutor may file a petition for expedited trial proceedings in writing upon institution of prosecution; provided, however, that this does not apply to cases punishable by the death penalty, imprisonment for life or imprisonment whose minimum term is not less than one year.