China's procuratorates bolster juvenile crime prevention

Chinese procuratorates have strengthened efforts in juvenile crime prevention and the protection of minors' rights, with the number of juvenile crime cases reviewed for prosecution continuing to decline in the first half of 2026, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate on Thursday. Prosecutors accepted and reviewed 39,000 juvenile crime cases for prosecution in the first six months, marking a 10.3 percent year-on-year decrease, following a 9.8 percent decline last year.

Procuratorial organs nationwide have taken a firm stance against crimes targeting minors, including sexual assault and intentional injury. In the first six months of the year, prosecutors charged 33,000 people with crimes against minors.

Simultaneously, prosecutors have emphasized that prevention is a form of protection and that punishment can also serve as rehabilitation. For minors suspected of crimes, procuratorial organs have combined lawful punishment with education, persuasion, and rehabilitation.

Procuratorial organs have also collaborated with other authorities to establish a graded intervention and correction system for minors involved in misconduct or crime. They have strengthened legal supervision over specialized education and correctional education to ensure timely intervention and guidance for minors, according to the SPP.

The SPP stated that it has further promoted the centralized and unified handling of juvenile procuratorial work while coordinating with relevant departments to improve protection and assistance for left-behind children, children in difficult circumstances, and minors with disabilities.

The SPP emphasized that procuratorial work will continue to support coordination among the six major protection systems for minors — family, school, society, cyberspace, government, and judiciary — to better prevent juvenile crime and safeguard children's lawful rights and interests.