Therefore, only the rulers, such as the lord of a manor and Kokugaryo (territories governed by provincial government office) and the lord-of-a-manor samurai, could exercise the jurisdiction and police powers (criminal cases) to the general public.
それに伴い、民衆に対する司法権・警察権の行使（検断沙汰）も支配者である荘園・国衙領領主や地頭武士に限られていた。