Juvenile prosecution figures down year on year in China: white paper

BEIJING -- China's procuratorial authorities handled prosecution review of 91,573 juvenile suspects in 2025, down 9.8 percent year on year, according to a white paper released on Monday by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP).

The figure marked the first decline in recent years.

The number of juveniles prosecuted stood at 55,814 in 2025, down 1.9 percent year on year, said the SPP.

Turning to cases involving crimes against minors, procuratorial authorities approved the arrest of 56,338 suspects in 2025, down 1.4 percent year on year, according to the white paper. A total of 72,807 people were prosecuted for such offenses, down 2.2 percent.

A total of 38,384 people were prosecuted in cases involving crimes against children under the age of 14, down 6 percent year on year, marking the first decline in five years.

The white paper said that in 2025, prosecutors firmly pursued punishment in accordance with the law for juvenile suspects involved in serious crimes and those posing significant social harm.

For minors involved in less serious offenses and first-time or occasional offenders, prosecutors prioritized education, rehabilitation, and efforts to prevent reoffending to the greatest extent.

In cases involving crimes against minors, prosecutors applied a "case-by-case review" approach and held more than 400 individuals accountable for failing to fulfill mandatory reporting obligations, resulting in serious consequences.

In 2025, prosecutors filed and handled 9,422 public-interest litigation cases related to the protection of minors, focusing on key areas such as hotel accommodations, the safety of schools and surrounding areas, and the regulation of tattoos.

Prosecutors also continued efforts to ensure guardians fulfill their responsibilities and prevent further harm to minors.