# Article 255, paragraph (1), its wordings — Code of Criminal Procedure

This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/history/art-255/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 255, paragraph (1) (第二百五十五条第一項) 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 255, paragraph (1) (第二百五十五条第一項) — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-255/par-1 (as Markdown: https://japanlaw.org/md/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-255/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:

> 犯人が国外にいる場合又は犯人が逃げ隠れているため有効に起訴状の謄本の送達若しくは略式命令の告知ができなかつた場合には、時効は、その国外にいる期間又は逃げ隠れている期間その進行を停止する。

English (Written for this site with AI, correcting the Ministry of Justice's English):

> If an offender is outside Japan or said offender is in hiding, making it impossible to serve a transcript of the charging sheet or notify the summary order, the statute of limitations is suspended during the period when the offender is outside Japan or is in hiding.

## 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:

> 犯人が国外にいる場合又は犯人が逃げ隠れているため有効に第二百七十一条第一項の規定による送達若しくは略式命令の告知ができなかつた場合には、時効は、その国外にいる期間又は逃げ隠れている期間その進行を停止する。

English (Machine translation, not official):

> If an offender is outside Japan or said offender is in hiding, making it impossible to validly effect service pursuant to the provisions of Article 271, paragraph (1) or notify the summary order, the statute of limitations is suspended during the period when the offender is outside Japan or is in hiding.

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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)