[henearkr]

And they heavily influence (using pressure such as off-the-record interviews, and long detention times during the investigations) the suspect's statements so that it says what they need to make it a crime, even when it isn't.

Whatever the suspect may say afterwards, they just have to point out to the signed statement and say "but here you confessed".

Source: I have been directly living such occurrence lol.

That's what has been coined the "hostage justice" of Japan (referring in particular to the "long detention times during investigations" part above).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostage_justice

[socalgal2]

given the stats above, 33 of 100k incarcerated, vs 541 of 100k in the USA. I'm inclined to think that the USA has far more of those types of cases than Japan.

[henearkr]

Hmm, the thing is that the hostage justice system does have a deterrent effect.

Its net effect is that you absolutely do not want to have anything to do with the police to help solve your problems in the society (true problems, not merely e.g. asking for directions). And then you really want to avoid problems at all.

So, you cannot think of them as "friendly useful workers to help solve problems", because they are heavily incentivized and biased to find or invent crimes if you give them the opportunity.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but police interviews are recorded in the US?

And also, you always have the right to an attorney? (that's not the case in Japan except if you want to stay 20 days incarcerated while waiting for an attorney, all for a tiny minor dismeanor).

[socalgal2]

> you absolutely do not want to have anything to do with the police to help solve your problems in the society

this is commonly said in the USA as well

[henearkr]

Ah ok, I see.

Maybe I rather have (had) the notion of police as it exists in the UK or some European countries.

There was the French "police de proximité" who acted as friendly allies (it seems it was dismantled in 2003, unfortunately).