送検

• Reading: そうけん
• Romaji: sōken
• Kanji breakdown: 送 (sō/oku) — to send, transmit; 検 (ken) — inspection, prosecutor (abbrev. of 検察)
• Pronunciation: /soː.keɴ/

Meaning

Sending a case to the public prosecutor; referral for prosecution. The procedural transfer of a case from police to the prosecutor's office.

A key step in Japan's criminal justice process. After investigation and arrest, police 送検 (refer) a suspect to the 検察庁 (public prosecutors' office), which then decides whether to prosecute (起訴) or not (不起訴). The term frequently appears in news reports about arrests. Full form: 検察庁に送検する.

Examples

1. 容疑者は逮捕から48時間以内に検察に送検された。 The suspect was referred to the prosecutor within 48 hours of arrest.
2. 書類送検により、在宅のまま捜査が続けられる場合もある。 In some cases, an investigation continues with the suspect at liberty following a document referral.
3. 警察が詐欺容疑で5名を一斉に送検した。 Police referred five people simultaneously to prosecutors on suspicion of fraud.

Usage Guide

Context: law, criminal justice, news, police

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 送 (to send, transmit) and 検 (inspection, prosecutor — short for 検察). The abbreviated character 検 here refers to 検察庁 (prosecutors' office). The term is a technical procedural abbreviation that has become standard in legal journalism.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal