Crime in China

Main article: China

2023

Execution of former kindergarten teacher who poisoned 25 children with sodium nitrite

On July 13, 2023, Chinese authorities announced the execution of former kindergarten teacher Wang Yun, who poisoned 25 children with sodium nitrite. The corresponding decision was made by the People's Court of the middle stage of Jiaozo City, Henan Province. Read more here.

Launch of Sky Net operation to catch corrupt officials who fled abroad

On March 21, 2023, the Information Department of the State Council of China (SCIO) announced that the country's authorities had initiated a large-scale anti-corruption operation codenamed Sky Net.

The goal of the initiative is to identify, find and prevent corrupt officials from fleeing abroad. In addition, within the framework of the program, measures will be taken to return stolen assets to the PRC. The decision to initiate the Sky Net program was made on March 20, 2023 at a meeting of the department for the repatriation of fugitives of the Central Anti-Corruption Coordination Group of China.

The goal of the initiative is to identify, find and prevent corrupt officials from fleeing abroad

It is noted that in the context of combating corruption, the National Commission for Supervision will lead a targeted campaign to combat crimes related to abuse of office. Procedures are planned to track down corrupt officials hiding in other countries. Such persons may have illegally obtained assets confiscated for their subsequent return to China.

At the same time, the Ministry of Public Security of the PRC organizes the Fox Hunt program to repatriate economic criminals. At the same time, the People's Bank of China will help combat the disguised transfer of misappropriated assets abroad. The Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Prosecutor's Office of the PRC will jointly conduct an operation to return stolen assets related to cases in which suspects or accused of committing crimes fled or died to the country. At the same time, the Organizational Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will cooperate with other authorities to resolve issues related to the issuance of documents that can help in the fight against corruption in the ranks of officials.^[1]

2021: Number of prisoners - 1,710,000

According to data available for 2021

2020: China lowers age of criminal responsibility to 12

At the end of December 2020, China lowered the age of criminal liability from 14 to 12 years, which is an obvious reaction to the increase in the proportion of crimes committed by minors.

According to the amendment to the criminal liability law, now from the age of 12, children can be criminally liable for causing injuries with particular cruelty, premeditated murder, intentional bodily harm that led to death. For other crimes, they can be sent to correctional institutions. The amendment will enter into force on March 1, 2021. The Supreme People's Prosecutor's Office will be responsible for making decisions on whether to initiate a criminal case in one case or another.

China has lowered the age of criminal liability to 12 years

This is a small adjustment with careful consideration, strict restrictions and preconditions, - said an expert on criminal law from the legal committee of the National People's Congress. - It insists on the principle of priority of correctional education for minors, and also takes into account the feelings of victims of crimes and society.

In 2017, under-14s accounted for 20% of all crimes committed by minors, up from 12.3% in 2009, according to state-run Chinese media reports.

In some cases, the penalties given to those under the age of criminal responsibility shocked the public. In one case, a 13-year-old boy from Dalian (Liaoning province in northeastern China) convicted of killing a 10-year-old girl in October 2019 received just three years of correctional education.

The average age of criminal responsibility worldwide is 14, according to London's International Network for the Rights of the Child. In the United States, 33 of the 50 states do not have a minimum age, although most have criminal capacity testing.^[2]

2019: The minimum age for children to be jailed is 14

Data for 2019

2018: Number of prisoners per 100 thousand citizens

2015

Chinese billionaire Liu Han after the death penalty verdict was announced. He took bribes and promoted his relatives and friends, February 9, 2015.

1938

A man convicted of murder is jailed in a wooden cage on a street in China. He will remain in "prison" until death, which will come from thirst or hunger. Most likely, after his death, his body will be on display for a long time, the 1930s.

1906

Convict kneels on chains, hands tied behind little fingers, Mukden (Shenyang), 1906.

1900

China, punishing a criminal, 1900

Notes