Prosecutions for crimes against minors and review of juvenile offenses record decline

Last year, the number of prosecutions for crimes against minors and the review of juvenile crimes by prosecuting agencies nationwide fell by 2.2 percent and 9.8 percent year-on-year, respectively, marking the first "double decline" over the past five years.

Ying Yong, prosecutor-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, revealed the figures at a symposium marking the 40th anniversary of the country's juvenile prosecution work held in Shanghai on Wednesday.

Ying said he believes such improvements are closely related to the concept proposed by the SPP two years ago that "prevention is protection, and punishment is also a form of salvation".

He stated that this concept aims to correctly balance punishment and protection in handling cases involving juvenile crimes. It emphasizes the need to protect minors according to the law, implementing the principles of education, rehabilitation, and salvation, while also stressing the importance of lawful punishment to serve as a deterrent and warning.

To better prevent juvenile crimes, prosecuting agencies in various regions have established a graded intervention mechanism for juvenile delinquency in recent years. Prosecutors noted that juvenile delinquency often follows a progressive trajectory from minor misbehavior to serious misconduct, and then to criminal behavior.

According to the three-tier prevention mechanism explored in recent years, truancy and internet addiction are addressed by schools and families; serious misbehavior, such as theft and provocation, is subject to specialized education; and criminal acts by those below the age of criminal responsibility are subject to specialized corrective education when necessary.

Shanghai is the birthplace of juvenile prosecution work in the country. The nation's first juvenile prosecution group was established in the city's Changning district 40 years ago.

In recent years, several work mechanisms pioneered by Shanghai's prosecuting agencies, such as social investigations and the presence of appropriate adults, have been incorporated into national legislation and regulatory documents.

The number of annual juvenile crimes in Shanghai has continuously dropped from its historical peak in 2007, with a reduction of more than 80 percent. Its proportion in all criminal offenses has dropped from 9.8 percent to 1.4 percent.