NCJ Number
132090
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Article 46 of the Chinese Constitution stipulates that the government will help children and youth develop morally, intellectually, and physically, and the rate of juvenile delinquency in China has traditionally been lower than in many countries.
Abstract
According to 1965 statistics for six large cities, there were only 2,257 juvenile offenders. In 1979, this figure increased to 28,902 individuals who accounted for 70 percent of the country's total number of juveniles. Most crimes committed by youth involve theft and hooliganism. Some serious crimes are committed such as robbery, rape, murder, and aircraft hijacking. The Chinese government fully supports the United Nation's standard minimum rules for juvenile justice administration. The government has mobilized community efforts to minimize judicial interference in the lives of young persons. China is experimenting with the juvenile court structure; since 1984, Shanghai has had collegiate benches for handling juvenile crime cases. Assistance and education groups have been established for young persons who commit minor offenses. Work-study schools are intended to provide special education to middle school students who have violated the law, particularly those who have committed minor offenses. Re-education through work has been used as an administrative disciplinary measure rather than as a criminal sanction for those who commit minor offenses but can be exempted from criminal responsibility. Special juvenile re-education facilities have been set up to educate juveniles who deserve criminal sanctions but are under 18 years of age. China has promoted studies of youth crime and juvenile delinquency, encouraged legislative efforts to protect youth, and established juvenile protection committees at the local level.