# Article 203, paragraph (1), its wordings — Code of Criminal Procedure

This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/history/art-203/par-1. Every law, and how to address a provision: https://japanlaw.org/llms.txt. The same laws as MCP tools (no sign-in): https://japanlaw.org/mcp.

How the wording of Article 203, paragraph (1) (第二百三条第一項) changed with each amendment, and how it will change.

- Law: Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法) — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure
- Provision: Article 203, paragraph (1) (第二百三条第一項) — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-203/par-1 (as Markdown: https://japanlaw.org/md/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-203/par-1)
- The law's amendments: https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/amendments
- 2 wordings, oldest first.

## 1. Before Act No. 39 of 2025

- State: In force

Japanese:

> 司法警察員は、逮捕状により被疑者を逮捕したとき、又は逮捕状により逮捕された被疑者を受け取つたときは、直ちに犯罪事実の要旨及び弁護人を選任することができる旨を告げた上、弁解の機会を与え、留置の必要がないと思料するときは直ちにこれを釈放し、留置の必要があると思料するときは被疑者が身体を拘束された時から四十八時間以内に書類及び証拠物とともにこれを検察官に送致する手続をしなければならない。

English (Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice):

> When a judicial police officer has arrested a suspect through an arrest warrant or has received a suspect who was arrested through an arrest warrant, said officer must immediately inform the suspect of the outline of the suspected crime and the fact that the suspect may appoint a defense counsel and then, giving the suspect an opportunity for explanation, said officer must immediately release the suspect when believing that it is not necessary to detain the suspect, or must carry out the procedure of referring the suspect together with the documents and articles of evidence to a public prosecutor within 48 hours of the suspect being placed under physical restraint when believing that it is necessary to detain the suspect.

## 2. By 31 March 2027 — Act No. 39 of 2025

- State: Not yet in force
- Takes effect: By 31 March 2027
- The amendment: Reworded (Act No. 39 of 2025) — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/amendments/20270331_507AC0000000039

Japanese:

> 司法警察員は、逮捕状により被疑者を逮捕したとき、又は逮捕状により逮捕された被疑者を受け取つたときは、直ちに犯罪事実の要旨及び弁護人を選任することができる旨を告げた上、弁解の機会を与え、留置の必要がないと思料するときは直ちにこれを釈放し、留置の必要があると思料するときは被疑者が身体を拘束された時から四十八時間以内に書類及び証拠物並びに電磁的記録と共にこれを検察官に送致する手続をしなければならない。

English (Machine translation, not official):

> When a judicial police officer has arrested a suspect through an arrest warrant or has received a suspect who was arrested through an arrest warrant, said officer must immediately inform the suspect of the outline of the suspected crime and the fact that the suspect may appoint a defense counsel and then, giving the suspect an opportunity for explanation, said officer must immediately release the suspect when believing that it is not necessary to detain the suspect, or must carry out the procedure of referring the suspect together with the documents and articles of evidence, and electronic or magnetic records, to a public prosecutor within 48 hours of the suspect being placed under physical restraint when believing that it is necessary to detain the suspect.

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## Sources

- The dates and the amending laws: e-Gov (Digital Agency) (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000131)
- English name of the law: Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb)
- English titles of the amending laws: Written for this site with AI
- The Japanese text before: e-Gov (Digital Agency) (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000131/20261020_508AC0000000067)
- The Japanese text after: e-Gov (Digital Agency) (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000131/20270331_507AC0000000039)