Article 1.　In accordance with the principle of the Japanese Constitution which guarantees the fundamental human rights, this Law aims at the rapid and easy recovery by the judicial court of the freedom of the person which is illegally restrained.

Article 2.　A person whose freedom of action is restrained without the proper legal procedure may apply for its recovery in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

Article 3.　The application mentioned in the preceding Article shall be made by an attorney on behalf of the restrained person. However, in cases where there exist extraordinary circumstances, it can be made by the applicant himself.

Article 4.　The application provide for in Article 2 may be presented in writing or orally to the High Court or District Court which has the jurisdiction over the district where the restrained, the restrainer or the applicant resides.

Article 5.　Such application in writing shall contain the following items specifically, and it shall be offered with necessary materials for presumptive proof:

Article 6.　The Law Court must make decision withhout delay on the request under Article 2.

Article 7.　The Court may, in case where the application lacks requisite vindications or necessary presumptive proof dismiss it by a decision.

Article 8.　Upon receipt of the application provided for in Article 2, the Court may, by request of the applicant or through its authority, transfer the case to another Court considered to have competent jurisdiction.

Article 9.　The Court may, except the cases prescribed in the preceding two Articles, immediately make the necessary inquiry, in order to prepare for investigations at the time of trial, into the reason for the restraint and other matters by conducting a hearing on the statement made by the restrained, the applicant and their attorneys and other interested parties.

Article 10.　In case of necessity, the Court may release, in order to release the restrained person temporarily by its decision either under oath that the restrained shall present himself at any time when summoned or on the conditions deemed proper or may otherwise take appropriate steps prior to conducting the trial provided for in Article 16.

Article 11.　The Court may dismiss the application for such releases without any proceedings for trial, when it has become evident through the preliminary inquiry that there exists no ground justifying the said application.

Article 12.　Except in case of Article 7 or Paragraph 1 of the preceding Article, the Court shall designate a certain date and place and summon for trial the applicant or his attorney, the restrained person and the restrainer.

Article 13.　The order mentioned in the preceding Article shall be notified to the Court which has issued the warrant concerning the restraint and to the procurator.

Article 14.　The investigations on the day of trial shall be conducted at an open court attended by the restrained person, the restrainer, the applicant and his attorney.

Article 15.　On the day of trial, the Court, upon hearing the statement of the applicant and the reply of the restrainer, shall conduct investigations on materials for presumptive proof.

Article 16.　If the Court, upon investigations, finds such application groundless, it shall dismiss it by decision, and hand over to the restrainer thee person so detained.

Article 17.　In the trial provided for in Article 7, Article 11, Paragraph 1, and in the preceding Article the restrainer may saddle the applicant with the entire costs spent in the procedure, or a part thereof.

Article 18.　In case where the restrainer refuses to obey the order mentioned in Article 12, Paragraph 2, the Court may arrest him or keep him in custody until he obeys the order, and impose on him a fine not exceeding \500 per each day's delay.

Article 19.　The restrainer, if notified by the person under restraint that he requests the benefit of an attorney on his behalf, shall immediately notify the request to the attorney whom he may nominate.

Article 20.　The Court which has received the application provided for in Article 2, or the Court to which such application has been forwarded shall immediately notify the Supreme Court of the case and report to it on the progress and results of the steps taken in connection therewith.

Article 21.　In regard to the decision made by the Lower Court, an appeal may be made to the Supreme Court within 3 days.

Article 22.　The Supreme Court, if it finds such steps necessary, may cause the Lower Court to transfer the pending case, irrespective of the stage of its proceedings, and may directly review it.

Article 23.　The Supreme Court may decide on necessary rules governing such application, examination, trial and other matters.

Article 24.　Judgements which were passed according to other laws and are unfavourable to the retained shall be invalied to the extent they conflict with this Law.

Article 25.　Those who have been relieved by this Law shall not be restrained on the same ground without the judgement of the Court.

Article 26.　Any one who undertakes to remove or hide the retained or contrives his escape, or who commits an act which may nullify the relief prescribed by this Law, or who deliberately makes incorrect entries in the written answer mentioned in Article 12, Paragraph 2, shall be liable to penal servitude of less than 2 years or a fine not exceeding \50,000.