However, since the 1995 Okinawan rape incident, the U.S. has agreed to favorably consider handing over suspects in serious cases such as rape and murder before they have been charged.[8] On 16 January 2017, Japan and the U.S. "signed a supplementary agreement to limit and clarify the definition of the civilian component protected under the Status of Forces Agreement."[9][10] This agreement came after the 2016 rape and murder of an Okinawa woman, allegedly by a civilian contract worker employed at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture.