China reported a notable decline in youth crime prosecutions and reviews last year, marking the first simultaneous decrease in both categories over five years, according to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP). At a recent symposium in Shanghai commemorating 40 years of juvenile prosecution work, Ying Yong, prosecutor-general of the SPP, revealed that prosecutions for crimes against minors fell by 2.2 percent, while reviews of juvenile crime cases decreased by 9.8 percent year-on-year in 2025.

Ying attributed the improvement to a policy concept introduced two years prior by the SPP, which emphasizes a balanced approach encapsulated in the phrase “prevention is protection, and punishment is also a form of salvation.” This framework prioritizes protecting minors under the law while focusing on education, rehabilitation, and reintegration for juvenile offenders. It also maintains that lawful punishment is a necessary deterrent.

Last year, more than 16,000 minors nationwide were granted conditional non-prosecution, with 96.5 percent successfully reintegrating into society after completing probation. Prosecutors highlighted this as evidence of their commitment to maximizing opportunities for education and rehabilitation, especially for juveniles involved in minor, first-time, or occasional offenses. However, the SPP also approved prosecuting 24 juveniles aged 12 to 14 for serious violent crimes, underscoring that youth does not exempt individuals from legal responsibility.

Among the serious cases was a notable 2025 conviction in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, where a 14-year-old identified as Zhong received a life sentence for intentionally killing a classmate. The attack, committed under unfounded suspicions, involved multiple stab wounds.

Prosecuting agencies nationwide have developed graded intervention mechanisms aimed at preventing juvenile delinquency, which often progresses from minor misbehavior to serious crimes. This three-tier system differentiates responses: schools and families address issues like truancy and internet addiction; specialized education targets more serious misconduct such as theft or provocation; and individuals below the age of criminal responsibility may be subject to corrective education when necessary.

Shanghai, where China’s juvenile prosecution efforts originated four decades ago with the establishment of the first juvenile prosecution group in the Changning district, has been at the forefront of innovations now adopted countrywide. These include conducting social investigations into minors’ family conditions and ensuring appropriate adults are present during interrogations.

Li Jianjun, chief prosecutor of the Changning District People’s Procuratorate, noted that the rise in juvenile crimes committed by non-residents prompted collaboration among local prosecutors, public security, courts, and judicial administrative bodies to create a comprehensive corrective education network. Shanghai has seen juvenile crime rates fall by more than 80 percent since a peak in 2007, with the proportion of juvenile offenses among all crimes declining from 9.8 percent to 1.4 percent.

The decline in youth crime and the implementation of balanced legal and rehabilitative measures reflect the nation’s evolving approach to juvenile justice, aiming to protect society while fostering the positive development of minors involved with the legal system.