Skip to main content

Abstract

The juvenile justice system of China has undergone drastic changes in the past 30 years or so. In many areas, it has begun to develop and to adjust to be consistent with the world standard. This article examines juvenile delinquency and its reaction—the juvenile justice system in China. It covers the topics of the emergence of a juvenile justice system, age of criminal responsibility, trends in juvenile crime, causes of juvenile delinquency, alternative sanctions, China’s stance toward the United Nations’ Committee on the Rights of the Child, etc. It concludes that with ever-enlarged stratification system, juvenile crime has become a prominent social issue in China. Under the current arrangement, juvenile courts are marginalized and do not have separate funding. Migrant children’s rights are ignored in all big cities. Local initiatives in controlling juvenile crimes are being experimented with in different locations, and some have showed desired effects. Progresses and concerns about juvenile delinquency and its reaction are both rampant.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bakken, B. (1993). Crime, juvenile delinquency and deterrence policy in China. The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs, 30(1), 29–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bao, W., Hass, A., & Pi, Y. (2007). Life Strain, negative emotions, and delinquency: An empirical test of general strain theory in the People’s Republic of China. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 48(3), 281–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bing, X. (2010). The current status, characteristics, and prevention measures of juvenile delinquency—The case of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Journal of Hunan Financial and Economic College, 26, 136–138 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cao, L. (2007). Returning to normality: Anomie and crime in China. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 51(1), 40–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao, L., & Cullen, F. T. (2001). Thinking about crime and control: A comparative study of Chinese and American ideology. International Criminal Justice Review, 11, 58–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao, L., & Dai, Y. (2001). Inequality and crime in China. In J. Liu, L. Zhang, & S. E. Messner (Eds.), Crime and social control in a changing China (pp. 73–85). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, X. (2015). Strain, family socioeconomic status, and delinquency among migrant adolescents in China: A multilevel model of general strain theory. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong), ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, X., & Zhong, H. (2012). Pressure, negative emotion and deviant behavior among migrant children. Issues on Juvenile and Youth Crime, 5, 22–33 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • China Law Society. (2004–2013). Law Yearbook of China. Beijing: Press of Law Yearbook of China.

    Google Scholar 

  • China Statistical Bureau. (1991–2014). China Statistical Yearbook. Beijing: China Statistics Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • China Statistical Bureau of Population and Employment, National Bureau of Statistics. (2013). China Population Yearbook. Beijing: China Statistics Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • China Statistical Bureau and Employment Section. (1991–2013). China Population and Employment Statistics Yearbook. Beijing: China Statistics Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • David, R., & Brierley, J. E. C. (1978). Major legal systems in the world. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng, S., & Roosa, M. (2007). Family influences on adolescent delinquent behaviors: Applying the social development model to a Chinese sample. American Journal of Community Psychology, 40, 333–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friday, P. C., Ren, X., Weitekamp, E., Kerner, H., & Tailor, T. (2005). A Chinese birth cohort: Theoretical implications. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 42(2), 123–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, M., & Zhang, J. (2008). On sanction’s improvement for juvenile crime in Chinese criminal code—Inspected from the angle of international human rights law. Legal Forum, 23, 12–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • He, N. (2014). The politics of numbers: Crime statistics in China. In L. Cao, I. Sun, & B. Hebenton (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of Chinese criminology (pp. 147–159). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • He, N., & Marshall, I. (1997). Social production of crime data: A critical examination of Chinese crime statistics. International Criminal Justice Review, 7, 46–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henan Provincial Higher Court. (2012). Judicial report on juvenile crime prevention in Henan province (2007–2011). Retrieved December 10, 2015, from http://www.hncourt.org/public/detail.php?id=137219 (in Chinese).

  • Huang, H. (2012). The modifications of criminal procedure law and construction of juvenile criminal prosecution. Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Research, 5, 16–19 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanier, M. M., & Henry, S. (2014). Essential criminology (4th ed.). Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, J. (2010, December 7). Juvenile delinquency among Chinese migrants on the rise. McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, X., Fang, X., Stanton, B., Feigelman, S., & Dong, Q. (1996). The rate and pattern of alcohol consumption among Chinese adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 19(5), 353–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, J. (2007, December 5). China riding wave of juvenile crime: Internet, one-child policy blamed. Edmonton Journal, A4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, J. (2008). Data sources in Chinese crime and criminal justice research. Crime, Law and Social Change, 50, 131–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, R. X. (2015). The effects of gender and bonds with parents and grandparents on delinquency among Chinese adolescents. Sociological Focus, 48(1), 68–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ngai, N., Cheung, C., & Ngai, S. S. (2007). Cognitive and social influences on gang involvement among delinquents in three Chinese cities. Adolescence, 42, 381–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ni, S. (2003, August 25). Chinese lawmaker claims internet causes juvenile delinquency. Xinhua News Agency-CEIS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pyrooz, D., & Decker, S. (2013). Delinquent behavior, violence, and gang involvement in China. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 29(2), 251–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shao, J. (2010). Study on juvenile crime prevention and correction mechanism in Tianjin. Tianjin Legal Science, 103, 83–89 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Su, K. (2014). On improvement of juvenile justice in China. People’s Justice, 17. Retrieved from http://article.chinalawinfo.com/ArticleFullText.aspx?ArticleId=87787 (in Chinese).

  • The Research Team of the Prosecution’s Office of Nansha District, Guangzhou. (2014). Research on conditional non-prosecution by prosecution’s office: The case of Nansha district prosecution’s office. Legal System and Society, 5, 59–61 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Troyer, R. J., Clark, J. P., & Rojek, D. G. (1989). Social control in the People’s Republic of China. New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, S. (2000, August 23). Good social environment crucial for preventing juvenile delinquency. Xinhua News Agency—CEIS, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, G. T., Qiao, H., Hong, S., & Zhang, J. (2002). Adolescent social bond, self-control, and deviant behavior in China. International Journal of Contemporary Sociology, 39(1), 53–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, J. V., Ren, L., Zhao, J. S., He, N., & Marshall, I. H. (2011). A comparative study on youth gangs in China and the United States: Definition, offending and victimization. International Criminal Justice Review, 21, 243–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, Z., Homel, R., Prichard, J., & Xu, J. (2004). Patterns of juvenile offending in Shanghai and Brisbane. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 37, 32–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, D. S. (2004). Juvenile protection and delinquency prevention policies in China. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 37, 52–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Z., & Cao, L. (2014). Historical themes of crime causation in China. In L. Cao, I. Sun, & B. Hebenton (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of Chinese criminology (pp. 3–15). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao, J. (2001). The creation of juvenile courts and issues related to its developments. Youth Studies. Retrieved from http://www.law-lib.com/lw/lw_view.asp?no=1050 (in Chinese).

  • Ying, G. (2004, May 20). Juvenile delinquency often starts with unpleasant experience at school. Xinhua News Agency—CEIS, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yue, L. (2002). Youth justice in China. In J. Winterdyk (Ed.), Juvenile justice system: International perspective (pp. 103–126). Ontario: Canadian Scholars’ Press Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y. (2007). A study on juvenile bail. Retrieved December 10, 2015, from http://old.chinacourt.org/html/article/200711/16/274929.shtml (in Chinese).

  • Zhang, H. (2013a). Essentials of juvenile justice. Beijing: People’s Publishing House (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y. (2013b). Juvenile re-education through labor and community corrections. Issues on Juvenile and Youth Crimes, 5, 77–81 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H. (2015). On juvenile justice. Beijing: People’s Publishing House (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, L., & Messner, S. F. (1995). Family deviance and delinquency in China. Criminology, 33(3), 359–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H., Zhao, R., Ren, L., & Zhao, J. (2014). Social attachment and juvenile attitudes toward the police in China: Bridging eastern and western wisdom. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 51(6), 703–734.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, R., Zhang, H., & Liu, J. (2014). Juvenile justice system in China: A system in transition. In J. Winterdyk (Ed.), Juvenile justice: International perspectives, models and trends (pp. 137–162). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Liqun Cao .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Zhao, R., Cao, L. (2017). China. In: Decker, S., Marteache, N. (eds) International Handbook of Juvenile Justice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45090-2_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45090-2_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-45088-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-45090-2

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics