There has been much comment on the draft of China's amended Criminal Procedure Law, now open for public comment on the National People's Congress webpage. Virtually all comment to date has been on the negative implications of the mooted enhancement of police powers to secretly detain suspects in endangering state security cases. While Dui Hua shares the concerns of many inside and outside of China over the proposed changes to the section on residential surveillance, it notes positive changes set out in the draft law.
Among the most significant of the proposed changes is the addition of a section on juvenile cases. (China defines juveniles as individuals between the ages of 14 and 18, exclusive.) Reflecting years of inquiry into both domestic experiments and international practice, the proposed amendments represent the biggest improvement in the treatment of juvenile offenders within China’s criminal justice system since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. The text and Dui Hua’s complete translation of the juvenile cases section can be found below. Dui Hua's press statement can be read in Dui Hua News.
Among the most significant of the proposed changes is the addition of a section on juvenile cases. (China defines juveniles as individuals between the ages of 14 and 18, exclusive.) Reflecting years of inquiry into both domestic experiments and international practice, the proposed amendments represent the biggest improvement in the treatment of juvenile offenders within China’s criminal justice system since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. The text and Dui Hua’s complete translation of the juvenile cases section can be found below. Dui Hua's press statement can be read in Dui Hua News.
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九十五、增加一章，作为第五编第一章：
“第一章未成年人犯罪案件诉讼程序
“第二百六十三条对犯罪的未成年人，实行教育、感化、挽救的方针，坚持教育为主、惩罚为辅的原则。
“人民法院、人民检察院和公安机关办理未成年人犯罪案件，应当保障未成年人行使其诉讼权利，保障未成年人得到法律帮助，并由熟悉未成年人身心特点的审判人员、检察人员、侦查人员进行。
“第二百六十四条未成年犯罪嫌疑人、被告人没有委托辩护人的，人民法院、人民检察院、公安机关应当通知法律援助机构指派律师为其提供辩护。
“第二百六十五条对于未成年犯罪嫌疑人、被告人，应当严格限制适用逮捕措施。人民法院决定逮捕和人民检察院审查批准逮捕，应当讯问未成年犯罪嫌疑人、被告人。
“对被拘留、逮捕和执行刑罚的未成年人与成年人应当分别关押、分别管理、分别教育。
“第二百六十六条对于未成年人犯罪案件，在讯问和审判时，应当通知犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的法定代理人到场。无法通知、法定代理人不能到场或者 法定代理人是共犯的，也可以通知犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的其他成年近亲属，所在学校、单位或者居住地的村民委员会、居民委员会、未成年人保护组织的代表到场， 并将有关情况在讯问笔录中注明。到场的法定代理人可以代为行使犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的诉讼权利。
“到场的法定代理人或者其他人员认为办案人员在讯问、审判中侵犯未成年人合法权益的，可以提出意见。讯问笔录、法庭笔录应当交给到场的法定代理人或者其他人员阅读或者向他宣读。
“讯问女性未成年犯罪嫌疑人，应当有女工作人员在场。
“审判未成年人犯罪案件，未成年被告人最后陈述后，其法定代理人可以进行补充陈述。
“询问未成年被害人、证人，适用第一款、第二款、第三款的规定。
“第二百六十七条对于未成年人涉嫌刑法分则第四章、第五章、第六章规定的犯罪，可能判处一年有期徒刑以下刑罚，符合起诉条件，但有悔罪表现的，人民检察院可以作出附条件不起诉的决定。人民检察院在作出附条件不起诉的决定以前，应当听取公安机关、被害人的意见。
“未成年犯罪嫌疑人及其法定代理人对人民检察院决定附条件不起诉有异议的，人民检察院应当作出起诉的决定。
“第二百六十八条在附条件不起诉的考验期内，由人民检察院对被附条件不起诉的犯罪嫌疑人进行监督考察。犯罪嫌疑人的监护人，应当对犯罪嫌疑人加强管教，配合人民检察院做好监督考察工作。
“附条件不起诉的考验期为六个月以上一年以下，从人民检察院作出附条件不起诉的决定之日起计算。
“被附条件不起诉的犯罪嫌疑人，应当遵守下列规定：
“（一）遵守法律、行政法规，服从监督；
“（二）按照考察机关的规定报告自己的活动情况；
“（三）离开所居住的市、县或者迁居，应当报经考察机关批准；
“（四）按照考察机关的要求接受教育矫治。
“第二百六十九条被附条件不起诉的犯罪嫌疑人，在考验期内发现有下列情形之一的，人民检察院应当撤销附条件不起诉的决定，提起公诉：
“（一）实施新的犯罪或者发现决定附条件不起诉以前还有其他罪需要追诉的；
“（二）违反治安管理规定或者考察机关有关附条件不起诉的监督管理规定，情节严重的。
“被附条件不起诉的犯罪嫌疑人，在考验期内没有上述情形，考验期满的，人民检察院应当作出不起诉的决定。
“第二百七十条审判的时候被告人不满十八岁的案件，不公开审理。
“第二百七十一条在法庭调查中，人民法院应当对未成年被告人的成长经历、犯罪原因、教育改造条件进行了解。
“第二百七十二条犯罪的时候不满十八岁，被判处五年有期徒刑以下刑罚的，司法机关和有关部门应当对相关犯罪记录予以封存。
“犯罪记录被封存的，不得向任何单位和个人提供，但司法机关为办案需要或者有关单位根据法律法规规定进行查询的除外。依法进行查询的单位，应当对被封存的犯罪记录的情况予以保密。
“第二百七十三条办理未成年人犯罪案件，除本章已有规定的以外，按照本法的其他规定进行。”
95. Addition of Article 5 Section 1:
“Section 1: Procedure for Juvenile Criminal Cases
“263. Implement educational, reformative, and redemptive guiding principles for juvenile offenders, upholding the principle of education first, punishment second.
“People’s courts, people’s procuratorates, and public security organs handling juvenile criminal cases shall ensure that juveniles exercise their procedural rights, ensure juveniles receive legal aid, and see that the cases are handled by judges, procurators, and investigators who are familiar with the special physical and emotional needs of juveniles.
“264. For juvenile criminal suspects or defendants without defense counsel, people’s courts, people’s procuratorates, and public security organs shall notify legal aid organizations to appoint a lawyer to serve in their defense.
265. Arrest measures shall be strictly limited for juvenile criminal suspects or defendants. People’s courts deciding to arrest and people’s procuratorates investigating and approving arrest shall interrogate the juvenile criminal suspect or defendant.
“Juveniles who have been detained, arrested, and are serving their sentence shall [each] be held separately, managed separately, and educated separately from adults.
“266. During the interrogation and trial of juvenile criminal cases, legal representatives of juvenile criminal suspects or defendants shall be notified to be present. [In instances where] such notification cannot be made, legal representatives cannot be present, or legal representatives are accomplices, notification may also be given to another close adult relative of the criminal suspect or defendant; a representative of his or her school or work unit; or a representative of the village committee, residential committee, or juvenile protection organizations in his or her place of residence, and a note made of this in the interrogation record. Present legal representatives may exercise procedural rights on behalf of the criminal suspect or defendant.
“A present legal representative or other member of personnel that believes personnel handling the case violated the lawful rights and interests of the juvenile during interrogation or trial may submit an opinion. Interrogation records and court records shall be provided to the present legal representative or other member of personnel to read or to be read aloud to him/her.
“Interrogation of female juvenile criminal suspects shall be done in the presence of female staff.
“In the trial of a juvenile criminal case, after the final statement of the juvenile defendant, his/her legal representative may make an additional statement.
“The regulations in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 apply to the questioning of juvenile victims and witnesses.
“267. [For] juveniles suspected of crimes in Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the enumerated offenses of the Criminal Law [i.e., crimes against a person’s individual or civil rights, crimes against property, and crimes of disturbing social order] who face fixed-term imprisonment of one year or less and meet the criteria for prosecution but have expressed regret, the people’s procuratorate may issue a decision of conditional non-prosecution. Before issuing a decision of conditional non-prosecution, the people’s procuratorate shall hear the opinions of public security organs and victims.
“[When] juvenile criminal suspects and legal representatives object to the people’s procuratorate’s conditional non-prosecution decision, the people’s procuratorate shall issue a decision to prosecute.
“268. During the probation period of conditional non-prosecution, the people’s procuratorate is to conduct monitoring and evaluation of the criminal suspect. The criminal suspect’s guardian shall strengthen discipline, cooperating with the people’s procuratorate to accomplish monitoring and evaluation work.
“The probation period of conditional non-prosecution shall be between six months and one year, starting from the day the people’s procuratorate issues its decision of conditional non-prosecution.
“Criminal suspects under conditional non-prosecution shall adhere to the following regulations:
“1. Respect the law and administrative regulations and submit to monitoring;
“2. Report his/her activities according to regulations stipulated by the probation organ;
“3. Report to and seek approval from the probation organ [when] leaving his/her city or county of residence or changing his/her place of residence;
“4. Accept correctional education according to the requirements of the probation organ.
“269. [If] the following circumstances are discovered for criminal suspects under conditional non-prosecution during the probation period, the people’s procuratorate shall vacate the conditional non-prosecution decision and prosecute:
“1. Commits another crime or is found to have had other prosecutable [offenses] prior to the decision of conditional non-prosecution;
“2. Commits in a serious manner a violation of either public order regulations or the probation organ’s monitoring-management regulations relating to conditional non-prosecution.
“[For] criminal suspects who complete the probation period of conditional non-prosecution without either of the aforementioned circumstances occurring, the people’s procuratorate shall issue a decision not to prosecute.
“270. Hearings shall not be public where defendants are younger than 18 years old at the time of trial.
“271. During court investigation, the people’s court shall [seek to] understand the juvenile defendant’s experience growing up, reasons for committing the crime, and conditions of education and reform.
“272. For those younger than 18 years old at the time of the offense who have been given a sentence of less than five years of fixed-term imprisonment, the judicial organs and relevant departments shall seal relevant criminal records.
“Sealed criminal records must not be provided to any work unit or individual, except [in situations where] judicial organs need them to conduct case work or relevant work units are conducting an inquiry in accordance with laws and regulations. Work units conducting an inquiry according to the law shall treat the situation of sealed criminal records with confidence.
“273. [Other aspects of the] handling of juvenile criminal cases, unless covered by the regulations of this section, shall be in accordance with other regulations of this law.”
刑事诉讼法修正案（草案）条文及草案说明 [摘选]
九十五、增加一章，作为第五编第一章：
“第一章未成年人犯罪案件诉讼程序
“第二百六十三条对犯罪的未成年人，实行教育、感化、挽救的方针，坚持教育为主、惩罚为辅的原则。
“人民法院、人民检察院和公安机关办理未成年人犯罪案件，应当保障未成年人行使其诉讼权利，保障未成年人得到法律帮助，并由熟悉未成年人身心特点的审判人员、检察人员、侦查人员进行。
“第二百六十四条未成年犯罪嫌疑人、被告人没有委托辩护人的，人民法院、人民检察院、公安机关应当通知法律援助机构指派律师为其提供辩护。
“第二百六十五条对于未成年犯罪嫌疑人、被告人，应当严格限制适用逮捕措施。人民法院决定逮捕和人民检察院审查批准逮捕，应当讯问未成年犯罪嫌疑人、被告人。
“对被拘留、逮捕和执行刑罚的未成年人与成年人应当分别关押、分别管理、分别教育。
“第二百六十六条对于未成年人犯罪案件，在讯问和审判时，应当通知犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的法定代理人到场。无法通知、法定代理人不能到场或者 法定代理人是共犯的，也可以通知犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的其他成年近亲属，所在学校、单位或者居住地的村民委员会、居民委员会、未成年人保护组织的代表到场， 并将有关情况在讯问笔录中注明。到场的法定代理人可以代为行使犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的诉讼权利。
“到场的法定代理人或者其他人员认为办案人员在讯问、审判中侵犯未成年人合法权益的，可以提出意见。讯问笔录、法庭笔录应当交给到场的法定代理人或者其他人员阅读或者向他宣读。
“讯问女性未成年犯罪嫌疑人，应当有女工作人员在场。
“审判未成年人犯罪案件，未成年被告人最后陈述后，其法定代理人可以进行补充陈述。
“询问未成年被害人、证人，适用第一款、第二款、第三款的规定。
“第二百六十七条对于未成年人涉嫌刑法分则第四章、第五章、第六章规定的犯罪，可能判处一年有期徒刑以下刑罚，符合起诉条件，但有悔罪表现的，人民检察院可以作出附条件不起诉的决定。人民检察院在作出附条件不起诉的决定以前，应当听取公安机关、被害人的意见。
“未成年犯罪嫌疑人及其法定代理人对人民检察院决定附条件不起诉有异议的，人民检察院应当作出起诉的决定。
“第二百六十八条在附条件不起诉的考验期内，由人民检察院对被附条件不起诉的犯罪嫌疑人进行监督考察。犯罪嫌疑人的监护人，应当对犯罪嫌疑人加强管教，配合人民检察院做好监督考察工作。
“附条件不起诉的考验期为六个月以上一年以下，从人民检察院作出附条件不起诉的决定之日起计算。
“被附条件不起诉的犯罪嫌疑人，应当遵守下列规定：
“（一）遵守法律、行政法规，服从监督；
“（二）按照考察机关的规定报告自己的活动情况；
“（三）离开所居住的市、县或者迁居，应当报经考察机关批准；
“（四）按照考察机关的要求接受教育矫治。
“第二百六十九条被附条件不起诉的犯罪嫌疑人，在考验期内发现有下列情形之一的，人民检察院应当撤销附条件不起诉的决定，提起公诉：
“（一）实施新的犯罪或者发现决定附条件不起诉以前还有其他罪需要追诉的；
“（二）违反治安管理规定或者考察机关有关附条件不起诉的监督管理规定，情节严重的。
“被附条件不起诉的犯罪嫌疑人，在考验期内没有上述情形，考验期满的，人民检察院应当作出不起诉的决定。
“第二百七十条审判的时候被告人不满十八岁的案件，不公开审理。
“第二百七十一条在法庭调查中，人民法院应当对未成年被告人的成长经历、犯罪原因、教育改造条件进行了解。
“第二百七十二条犯罪的时候不满十八岁，被判处五年有期徒刑以下刑罚的，司法机关和有关部门应当对相关犯罪记录予以封存。
“犯罪记录被封存的，不得向任何单位和个人提供，但司法机关为办案需要或者有关单位根据法律法规规定进行查询的除外。依法进行查询的单位，应当对被封存的犯罪记录的情况予以保密。
“第二百七十三条办理未成年人犯罪案件，除本章已有规定的以外，按照本法的其他规定进行。”
Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China (Draft) [Excerpt]
95. Addition of Article 5 Section 1:
“Section 1: Procedure for Juvenile Criminal Cases
“263. Implement educational, reformative, and redemptive guiding principles for juvenile offenders, upholding the principle of education first, punishment second.
“People’s courts, people’s procuratorates, and public security organs handling juvenile criminal cases shall ensure that juveniles exercise their procedural rights, ensure juveniles receive legal aid, and see that the cases are handled by judges, procurators, and investigators who are familiar with the special physical and emotional needs of juveniles.
“264. For juvenile criminal suspects or defendants without defense counsel, people’s courts, people’s procuratorates, and public security organs shall notify legal aid organizations to appoint a lawyer to serve in their defense.
265. Arrest measures shall be strictly limited for juvenile criminal suspects or defendants. People’s courts deciding to arrest and people’s procuratorates investigating and approving arrest shall interrogate the juvenile criminal suspect or defendant.
“Juveniles who have been detained, arrested, and are serving their sentence shall [each] be held separately, managed separately, and educated separately from adults.
“266. During the interrogation and trial of juvenile criminal cases, legal representatives of juvenile criminal suspects or defendants shall be notified to be present. [In instances where] such notification cannot be made, legal representatives cannot be present, or legal representatives are accomplices, notification may also be given to another close adult relative of the criminal suspect or defendant; a representative of his or her school or work unit; or a representative of the village committee, residential committee, or juvenile protection organizations in his or her place of residence, and a note made of this in the interrogation record. Present legal representatives may exercise procedural rights on behalf of the criminal suspect or defendant.
“A present legal representative or other member of personnel that believes personnel handling the case violated the lawful rights and interests of the juvenile during interrogation or trial may submit an opinion. Interrogation records and court records shall be provided to the present legal representative or other member of personnel to read or to be read aloud to him/her.
“Interrogation of female juvenile criminal suspects shall be done in the presence of female staff.
“In the trial of a juvenile criminal case, after the final statement of the juvenile defendant, his/her legal representative may make an additional statement.
“The regulations in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 apply to the questioning of juvenile victims and witnesses.
“267. [For] juveniles suspected of crimes in Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the enumerated offenses of the Criminal Law [i.e., crimes against a person’s individual or civil rights, crimes against property, and crimes of disturbing social order] who face fixed-term imprisonment of one year or less and meet the criteria for prosecution but have expressed regret, the people’s procuratorate may issue a decision of conditional non-prosecution. Before issuing a decision of conditional non-prosecution, the people’s procuratorate shall hear the opinions of public security organs and victims.
“[When] juvenile criminal suspects and legal representatives object to the people’s procuratorate’s conditional non-prosecution decision, the people’s procuratorate shall issue a decision to prosecute.
“268. During the probation period of conditional non-prosecution, the people’s procuratorate is to conduct monitoring and evaluation of the criminal suspect. The criminal suspect’s guardian shall strengthen discipline, cooperating with the people’s procuratorate to accomplish monitoring and evaluation work.
“The probation period of conditional non-prosecution shall be between six months and one year, starting from the day the people’s procuratorate issues its decision of conditional non-prosecution.
“Criminal suspects under conditional non-prosecution shall adhere to the following regulations:
“1. Respect the law and administrative regulations and submit to monitoring;
“2. Report his/her activities according to regulations stipulated by the probation organ;
“3. Report to and seek approval from the probation organ [when] leaving his/her city or county of residence or changing his/her place of residence;
“4. Accept correctional education according to the requirements of the probation organ.
“269. [If] the following circumstances are discovered for criminal suspects under conditional non-prosecution during the probation period, the people’s procuratorate shall vacate the conditional non-prosecution decision and prosecute:
“1. Commits another crime or is found to have had other prosecutable [offenses] prior to the decision of conditional non-prosecution;
“2. Commits in a serious manner a violation of either public order regulations or the probation organ’s monitoring-management regulations relating to conditional non-prosecution.
“[For] criminal suspects who complete the probation period of conditional non-prosecution without either of the aforementioned circumstances occurring, the people’s procuratorate shall issue a decision not to prosecute.
“270. Hearings shall not be public where defendants are younger than 18 years old at the time of trial.
“271. During court investigation, the people’s court shall [seek to] understand the juvenile defendant’s experience growing up, reasons for committing the crime, and conditions of education and reform.
“272. For those younger than 18 years old at the time of the offense who have been given a sentence of less than five years of fixed-term imprisonment, the judicial organs and relevant departments shall seal relevant criminal records.
“Sealed criminal records must not be provided to any work unit or individual, except [in situations where] judicial organs need them to conduct case work or relevant work units are conducting an inquiry in accordance with laws and regulations. Work units conducting an inquiry according to the law shall treat the situation of sealed criminal records with confidence.
“273. [Other aspects of the] handling of juvenile criminal cases, unless covered by the regulations of this section, shall be in accordance with other regulations of this law.”
