Status, Issues, and Challenges of Chinese Juvenile Justice

• Published date: 01 May 2018
• Date: 01 May 2018
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/1043986218766115
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986218766115

Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice

2018, Vol. 34(2) 219 –229

© The Author(s) 2018

Reprints and permissions:

sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav

DOI: 10.1177/1043986218766115

journals.sagepub.com/home/ccj

Article

Status, Issues, and

Challenges of Chinese

Juvenile Justice

Hongwei Zhang1 and Ni “Phil” He2

Abstract

Given the size of China’s juvenile population and the rapid social transformation in

recent decades, researchers and policy makers are paying increased attention to

juvenile justice–related issues. This article begins with an overview of the Chinese

juvenile justice national data, followed by an in-depth discussion on the principles

and mixed influences, and the unique juvenile justice process in China. Drawing upon

the accumulated research on the subject matter, we highlight the most significant

challenges such as rising crime among migrant youth, reforms within the criminal

justice agencies, and issues of legitimacy facing the Chinese juvenile justice system

today. Recommendations are made for future research and policy.

Keywords

Chinese juvenile justice, legitimacy, reform, balanced justice

Introduction

China is the world’s most populous country and the second largest economy as of

2017. Among its 1.35 billion population, nearly 279 million are juveniles below 18

years of age (National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2012). Because of its dazzling

economic growth, increasing global influence, and distinctive historical, cultural, and

political context, China is viewed as “a strategic site for developing criminological

knowledge” (Liu, 2007, p. 7). Several recent observations of Chinese juvenile crimes

are worth noting, such as the trend toward younger age of offenders, the growing

1Jinan University, Zhuhai, China

2Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA

Corresponding Author:

Ni “Phil” He, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Northeastern University, Boston,

MA 02115, USA.

Email: n.he@northeastern.edu

766115CCJXXX10.1177/1043986218766115Journal of Contemporary Criminal JusticeZhang and He

research-article2018