中国的司法改革

Judicial Reform in China

中华人民共和国国务院新闻办公室

Information Office of the State Council, the People’s Republic of China

2012年10月

October 2012, Beijing

目录

Contents

前言

Preface

一、司法制度和改革进程

I. Judicial System and Reform Process

二、维护社会公平正义

II. Maintaining Social Fairness and Justice

三、加强人权保障

III. Strengthening Human Rights Protection

四、提高司法能力

IV. Enhancing Judicial Capabilities

五、践行司法为民

V. Judicial Power Serving the People

结束语

Conclusion

前言

Preface

　　司法制度是政治制度的重要组成部分，司法公正是社会公正的重要保障。

The judicial system is a major component of the political system, while judicial impartiality is a significant guarantee of social justice.

　　新中国成立特别是改革开放以来，中国坚持从国情出发，在承继中国传统法律文化优秀成果、借鉴人类法治文明的基础上，探索建立并不断完善中国特色社会主义司法制度，维护了社会公正，为人类法治文明作出了重要贡献。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Since the founding of New China in 1949, and especially since the reform and opening-up policies were introduced some three decades ago, China, proceeding from its national conditions, carrying on the achievements of Chinese traditional legal culture and learning from other civilizations regarding their rule of law, has been building and improving its socialist judicial system with Chinese characteristics, safeguarding social justice and making significant contributions to the rule of law of the mankind.

　　中国的司法制度总体上与社会主义初级阶段的基本国情相适应，符合人民民主专政的国体和人民代表大会制度的政体。同时，随着改革开放的不断深入特别是社会主义市场经济的发展、依法治国基本方略的全面落实和民众司法需求的日益增长，中国司法制度迫切需要改革、完善和发展。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

China’s judicial system is generally consistent with its basic national conditions at the primary stage of socialism, its state system of people’s democratic dictatorship, and its government system of the National People’s Congress. With the further development of China’s reform and opening up, particularly due to the development of the socialist market economy, the comprehensive implementation of the fundamental principle of rule of law, and the increasing demands of the public for justice, China’s judicial system urgently needs to be reformed, improved and developed.

　　近些年来，中国积极、稳妥、务实地推进司法体制和工作机制改革，以维护司法公正为目标，以优化司法职权配置、加强人权保障、提高司法能力、践行司法为民为重点，进一步完善中国特色社会主义司法制度，扩大司法民主，推行司法公开，保证司法公正，为中国经济发展和社会和谐稳定提供了有力的司法保障。

In recent years, China has been promoting the reform of the judicial system and its work mechanism vigorously, steadily and pragmatically. Aiming to safeguard judicial justice and focusing on optimizing the allocation of judicial functions and power, enhancing protection of human rights, improving judicial capacity, and practicing the principle of “judicature for the people,” China has been striving to improve its judicial system with Chinese characteristics, expand judicial democracy, promote judicial openness and ensure judicial impartiality. This provides a solid judicial guarantee for China’s economic development, social harmony and national stability.

　　一、司法制度和改革进程

I. Judicial System and Reform Process

　　1949年中华人民共和国建立，开启了中国司法制度建设的新纪元。1949年9月颁布的具有临时宪法性质的《中国人民政治协商会议共同纲领》和《中华人民共和国中央人民政府组织法》，奠定了新中国的法制基石。1954年制定的《中华人民共和国宪法》和《中华人民共和国人民法院组织法》、《中华人民共和国人民检察院组织法》等法律、法令，规定了人民法院、人民检察院的组织体系和基本职能，确立了合议制度、辩护制度、公开审判制度、人民陪审员制度、法律监督制度、人民调解制度，形成了中国司法制度的基本体系。

The founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 ushered in a new era for the building of China’s judicial system. The Common Program of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which functioned as a provisional Constitution, and the Organic Law of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China, both promulgated in September 1949, laid the cornerstone for legal construction in New China. The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China promulgated in 1954, the Organic Law of the People’s Courts of the People’s Republic of China, the Organic Law of the People’s Procuratorates of the People’s Republic of China among other laws and regulations, defined the organic system and basic functions of the people’s courts and procuratorates, established the systems of collegiate panels, defense, public trial, people’s jurors, legal supervision, civil mediation, putting into place the basic framework of China’s judicial system.

　　20世纪50年代后期以后，特别是“文化大革命”（1966—1976年）十年动乱期间，中国司法制度一度遭到严重破坏。1978年实行改革开放后，中国总结历史经验教训，确立了发展社会主义民主、健全社会主义法制的基本方针，恢复重建了司法制度，制定和修订了一系列基本法律。20世纪90年代，中国确立了依法治国的基本方略，加快建设社会主义法治国家。伴随着社会进步和民主法治建设进程，中国司法制度不断得到完善和发展。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Toward the end of 1950s, especially during the ten-year tumultuous “cultural revolution” (1966-1976), China’s judicial system suffered severe damage. Since the reform and opening-up policies were introduced in 1978, China, after summing up its historical experience, established the fundamental policy of promoting socialist democracy and improving socialist legal construction, restored and rebuilt the judicial system, and formulated and amended a range of fundamental laws. In the 1990s, China established the fundamental principle of governing the country in accordance with the law, and quickened the step to build China into a socialist country under the rule of law. During the process of promoting social progress, democracy and the rule of law, China’s judicial system is continuously improving and developing.

　　（一）中国司法制度的基本特点

1. Basic Characteristics of China’s Judicial System

　　中国是工人阶级领导的、以工农联盟为基础的人民民主专政的社会主义国家。人民代表大会制度是中国的政权组织形式。中国的国体和政体决定了司法权来自人民、属于人民、服务人民。人民法院、人民检察院由各级人民代表大会产生，对它负责，受它监督。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

China is a socialist country with a people’s democratic dictatorship led by the working class and based on the alliance of workers and peasants. The people’s congress system is the organic form of its state power. China’s state system and system of government decide that its judicial power comes from the people, belongs to the people and serves the people. The people’s courts and the people’s procuratorates are created by the people’s congresses at various levels, to which they are responsible and by which they are supervised. 

　　人民法院是国家的审判机关。国家设立最高人民法院、地方各级人民法院和军事法院等专门人民法院,依法审理民事、刑事、行政诉讼案件，开展民事、行政执行和国家赔偿等执法活动。最高人民法院监督地方各级人民法院和专门人民法院的审判工作，上级人民法院监督下级人民法院的审判工作。在诉讼活动中，实行审判公开、合议、回避、人民陪审员、辩护、两审终审等制度。

The people’s court is the basic judicial organ in China. The state has set up the Supreme People’s Court, local people’s courts at different levels and special people’s courts such as military courts. They adjudicate civil, criminal and administrative cases in accordance with the law, and carry out law enforcement activities including the execution of civil and administrative cases and state compensation. The Supreme People’s Court supervises the judicial work of all local people’s courts and special people’s courts. The people’s court at a higher level supervises the judicial work of the people’s court at the next lower level. In litigious activities, China adopts the systems of public trial, collegiate panels, challenge, people’s jurors, defense, and judgment of the second instance as final, among others.

　　人民检察院是国家的法律监督机关。国家设立最高人民检察院、地方各级人民检察院和军事检察院等专门人民检察院。最高人民检察院领导地方各级人民检察院和专门人民检察院的工作，上级人民检察院领导下级人民检察院的工作。人民检察院依法对刑事、民事、行政诉讼实行法律监督。

The people’s procuratorate is the procuratorial organ in China. The state has set up the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, local people’s procuratorates at different levels and special people’s procuratorates such as military procuratorates. The Supreme People’s Procuratorate directs the work of local people’s procuratorates at different levels and special people’s procuratorates. A people’s procuratorate at a higher level directs the work of a people’s procuratorate at the next level below it. The people’s procuratorate exercises legal supervision over criminal, civil and administrative litigations in accordance with the law.

　　人民法院、人民检察院依法独立公正行使审判权和检察权，行使权力情况接受人大监督，并自觉接受人民政协的民主监督和社会的监督。

The people’s court and the people’s procuratorate exercise their adjudicative power and procuratorial power independently and impartially in accordance with the law. Their exercise of power is subject to the supervision of the National People’s Congress, the Chinese People’ s Political Consultative Conference and the general public.

　　人民法院、人民检察院和公安机关办理刑事案件，实行分工负责，互相配合，互相制约，以保证准确有效地执行法律。对刑事案件的侦查、拘留、执行逮捕、预审，由公安机关负责；检察、批准逮捕、检察机关直接受理的案件的侦查、提起公诉，由人民检察院负责；审判由人民法院负责。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

The people’s courts, the people’s procuratorates and the organs of public security handle criminal cases according to their respective functions, and collaborate with and check each other, so as to ensure the accurate and efficient implementation of law. The organs of public security take charge of the investigation, detention, arrest and pretrial in criminal cases; the people’s procuratorates conduct procuratorial work, approve proposals for arrest, investigate cases directly accepted by them, and initiate public prosecution; and the people’s courts are responsible for conducting trials.

　　（二）中国司法改革的目标、原则和进程

2. Objectives, Principles and Process of China’s Judicial Reform

　　改革开放以来，中国经济社会快速发展，社会公众的法治意识显著增强，司法环境发生深刻变化，司法工作遇到许多新情况、新问题，现行司法体制和工作机制中存在的不完善、不适应问题日益凸显，需要在改革中逐步完善和发展。

Since the introduction of the reform and opening-up policies, China has witnessed rapid economic and social development, and the public’s awareness of the importance of the rule of law has been remarkably enhanced. Due to the profound changes in the judicial environment, judicial work in China is facing new situations and problems. The defects and rigidity in China’s current judicial system and its work mechanism are becoming increasingly prominent, and they need to be improved gradually through reform.

　　中国司法改革的根本目标是保障人民法院、人民检察院依法独立公正地行使审判权和检察权，建设公正高效权威的社会主义司法制度，为维护人民群众合法权益、维护社会公平正义、维护国家长治久安提供坚强可靠的司法保障。

The fundamental objectives of China’s judicial reform are to ensure that the people’s courts and people’s procuratorates exercise adjudicative power and procuratorial power fairly and independently; to establish an impartial, efficient and authoritative socialist judicial system; and to provide solid and reliable judicial guarantee for safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the people, social equity and justice, and lasting national stability.

　　中国司法改革始终坚持从国情出发，既博采众长、又不照抄照搬，既与时俱进、又不盲目冒进；坚持群众路线，充分体现人民的意愿，着眼于解决民众不满意的问题，自觉接受人民的监督和检验，真正做到改革为了人民、依靠人民、惠及人民；坚持依法推进，以宪法和法律规定为依据，凡是与现行法律相冲突的，应在修改法律后实施；坚持统筹协调、总体规划、循序渐进、分步推进。

China carries out judicial reform based on its national conditions. It draws on the sound practices of other countries but does not blindly copy them; it keeps pace with the times but does not advance rashly and blindly. It sticks to the line of relying on the people, strives to meet their expectations, tackles problems of particular concern to the people, and subjects itself to their supervision and examination, so as to ensure the reform is for the people, relies on the people and benefits the people. It pushes forward the reform in accordance with the law, abiding by the Constitution and other laws and regulations, while those measures that contravene the laws in force should only be implemented after the laws are revised. It adheres to the principle of overall planning and coordination, comprehensive designing, and proceeding in an orderly and gradual way.

　　早在20世纪80年代，中国就开始了以强化庭审功能、扩大审判公开、加强律师辩护、建设职业化法官和检察官队伍等为重点内容的审判方式改革和司法职业化改革。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

As early as in the 1980s, China started reforms in court trials and ensuring professionalism in judicature, focusing on enhancing the function of court trials, expanding the openness of trials, improving attorney defense functions, and training professional judges and procurators.

　　从2004年开始，中国启动了统一规划部署和组织实施的大规模司法改革，从民众反映强烈的突出问题和影响司法公正的关键环节入手，按照公正司法和严格执法的要求，从司法规律和特点出发，完善司法机关的机构设置、职权划分和管理制度，健全权责明确、相互配合、相互制约、高效运行的司法体制。中国司法改革走向整体统筹、有序推进的阶段。

In 2004, China launched large-scale judicial reforms based on overall planning, deployment and implementation. Starting with issues that caused complaints from the public and the key links that hamper judicial justice, according to the demands of promoting judicial impartiality and strict enforcement of the law, and proceeding from the regular pattern and characteristics of judicial practice, China improved the structure of its judicial organs, division of judicial functions and system of judicial management, to establish a judicial system featuring clearly defined power and responsibilities, mutual collaboration and restraint, and highly efficient operation. Thereby, China’s judicial reform entered a phase of overall planning and advancing in an orderly way.

　　从2008年开始，中国启动了新一轮司法改革，司法改革进入重点深化、系统推进的新阶段。改革从民众司法需求出发，以维护人民共同利益为根本，以促进社会和谐为主线，以加强权力监督制约为重点，抓住影响司法公正、制约司法能力的关键环节，解决体制性、机制性、保障性障碍，从优化司法职权配置、落实宽严相济刑事政策、加强司法队伍建设、加强司法经费保障等四个方面提出具体改革任务。目前，本轮司法改革的任务已基本完成，并体现在修订完善的相关法律中。随着中国经济社会的不断进步与发展，中国司法改革也将进一步深入推进。   微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Since 2008, China has initiated a new round of judicial reform, and entered a stage of deepening in key areas and overall advancement. The reform proceeds from the demands of the public for justice, with safeguarding the people’s common interests as its fundamental task, promoting social harmony as the main principle and strengthening supervision and restraint of power as priority. China aims to tackle problems in the key links that hamper judicial justice and restrain judicial capability, remove existing barriers in the institutional setup and operational mechanism as well as provision of legal guarantee, and put forward the specific tasks for judicial reform in four aspects - optimizing the allocation of judicial functions and power, implementing the policy of balancing leniency and severity, building up the ranks of judicial workers, and ensuring judicial funding. Currently, the tasks of this round of judicial reform have been basically completed, as relevant laws have been amended and improved. As China is making continuous progress in economic and social development, its judicial reform is bound to advance further.

二、维护社会公平正义

II. Maintaining Social Fairness and Justice

　　维护社会公平正义，是司法改革的价值取向。中国从完善司法机构设置和职权配置、规范司法行为、完善诉讼程序、强化司法民主和法律监督方面进行改革，努力提高司法机关维护社会公平正义的能力。

Maintaining social fairness and justice is the value to be enforced in China’s judicial reform. China aims its judicial reform at strengthening its judicial organs’ capability in maintaining social justice by optimizing the structure of the judicial organs and allocation of their functions and power, standardizing judicial acts, improving judicial proceedings, and enhancing judicial democracy and legal supervision.

　　（一）优化司法职权配置

1. Optimizing the Allocation of Judicial Functions and Power

　　司法职权配置的合理与优化，直接关系到司法公正的实现。中国从解决影响司法公正的体制性障碍出发，加强司法机关内部机构制约，理顺上下级法院、检察院的审判、检察业务关系，规范完善再审程序，建立统一的执行工作体制和司法鉴定管理体制。这些改革提高了司法机关公正司法的能力，有助于维护社会公平正义，满足民众对司法公正的新期待、新要求。

The rationalization and optimization of judicial functions and power has a direct bearing on the materialization of justice. China, starting from removing the institutional barriers that affect judicial impartiality, has enhanced internal checks in judicial organs, clarified the work relationship between the people’s courts and the people’s procuratorates at different levels, standardized and improved retrial procedures, and established consistent law-enforcement system and judicial authentication management system. These reforms have improved judicial organs’ capacity for maintaining fairness, helped to safeguard social equity and justice, and fulfilled the public’s new expectations and demands for the judicial system in maintaining justice.

　　法院实行立案、审判、执行分立。各级人民法院在原有的刑事审判庭、民事审判庭、行政审判庭的基础上增设立案庭、执行局等机构，立案、审判和执行分别由不同的机构负责，强化内设机构职权行使的相互制约，促进了审判权、执行权的公正行使。

Separation of filing, trial and execution of cases. The people’s courts at all levels have established case-filing tribunals, execution bureaus and other departments in addition to the original criminal, civil and administrative adjudication tribunals. Case-filing, trial and execution are handled separately by different offices, which act independently and exercise a mutual-check function to ensure the fair exercise of adjudicative and execution power.

　　规范发回重审和指定再审。为解决司法实践中发回重审、指令再审程序中存在的不规范问题，2012年修改的民事诉讼法明确规定，原审人民法院对发回重审的案件作出判决后，当事人提起上诉的，第二审人民法院不得再次发回重审。2012年修改的刑事诉讼法规定，指令下级法院再审的刑事案件，原则上由原审法院以外的其他法院审理。

Standardizing the retrial of remanded cases and designated cases. To correct the irregular practices in the procedures regarding retrial of remanded cases and designated cases, the Civil Procedure Law amended in 2012 revised and improved the procedure for the retrial of remanded cases. The new provisions clearly state that after the original people’s court makes its ruling in the retrial of a remanded case, if the litigant makes an appeal, the people’s court of second instance shall not send the case back for a retrial. The Criminal Procedure Law, amended in 2012, articulates that a criminal case designated for retrial by a lower-level people’s court shall be tried by one other than the original court in principle.

　　规范完善统一的民事、行政案件执行工作体制。法院生效判决和裁定的充分有效执行，事关当事人合法权益的切实保障和司法权威。近年来，各地法院普遍建立了与公安、检察、金融、国土、建设、工商、出入境管理等部门密切配合的执行联动机制。法院实行执行裁决权与执行实施权分立。高级、中级人民法院建立执行指挥中心，统一管理和协调执行工作，必要时实行提级、跨区执行。执行体制改革进一步加强了执行权运行的内部制约，提高了执行工作的公正和规范化水平，有效保护了当事人合法权益。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Regularizing and improving a unified execution mechanism for civil and administrative cases. Full and effective execution of a judgment or verdict given by the court bears on effective protection of the lawful rights of all parties involved and the expression of judicial authority. In recent years, local people’s courts have established a mechanism of execution that works closely with departments in charge of public security, procuratorial work, finance, land resources, construction, business and commerce, as well as exit-entry administration. The people’s courts exercise separation of jurisdiction from execution. The higher and intermediate people’s courts have established execution command centers for unified management and coordination of execution, and, when necessary, can have their power elevated or allow them to carry out the execution beyond the prescribed region. The reform of the execution system has further strengthened the internal checks on the exercise of execution power, promoted impartial and standardized execution, and effectively protected the legitimate rights of the parties concerned.

　　改革职务犯罪案件审查逮捕程序。为有效防止错误逮捕，中国对职务犯罪案件审查逮捕程序进行了改革，省级以下人民检察院立案侦查的职务犯罪案件，需要逮捕犯罪嫌疑人的，由上一级人民检察院审查决定。这项改革加强了上级人民检察院对下级人民检察院执法办案工作的监督。

Reforming the procedures for examining and approving arrests in power-abuse cases. To prevent arrests by mistake, China has reformed the procedure for examining and approving arrests in power-abuse cases. For power-abuse cases filed with and investigated by a people’s procuratorate below the provincial level, the approval for an arrest shall be examined and determined by the people’s procuratorate at the next higher level. This reform has strengthened the supervision of a people’s procuratorate at a higher level over one at a lower level on law enforcement.

　　完善司法鉴定管理体制。司法鉴定是在诉讼活动中鉴定人运用科学技术或者专门知识，对诉讼涉及的专门性问题进行鉴别和判断，并提供鉴定意见的活动。改革前，中国的司法鉴定制度存在着立法不完善、管理不规范、标准不统一等现象。为解决这些问题，2005年中国的立法机关颁布实施《关于司法鉴定管理问题的决定》，确立统一的司法鉴定管理体制，实行统一的登记管理制度。国务院司法行政部门主管全国的鉴定人和鉴定机构登记管理工作，省级人民政府司法行政部门负责鉴定人和鉴定机构的审核登记、名册编制和公告。人民法院和司法行政部门不再设立司法鉴定机构；侦查机关根据侦查工作需要设立的鉴定机构，不再面向社会接受委托从事司法鉴定服务。推行行政管理与行业协会自律管理相结合的管理机制，实施司法鉴定人依法独立执业制度，提高了鉴定的规范性和中立性。截至2011年底，中国经审核登记的司法鉴定机构有5014家，司法鉴定人52812名。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Improving the system of judicial authentication management. Judicial authentication refers to the activity of an authenticator applying scientific technology or specialized knowledge to identify and determine the specialized issues involved in a lawsuit and giving authentication opinions. Before the judicial reform, the judicial authentication system in China had problems as legislation was incomplete, management was not standardized and standards were not consistent. To solve these problems, China’s legislative organ promulgated the Decision on the Management of Judicial Authentication in 2005, thereby establishing a uniform management and registration system for judicial authentication. The judicial administrative departments of the State Council take charge of the registration and management of judicial authenticators and judicial authentication institutions in China, while the judicial administrative departments of the people’s governments at the provincial level are responsible for the registration upon examination, roster formulation and roster announcement of judicial authenticators and judicial authentication institutions. The people’s courts and judicial administrative departments do not have judicial authentication institutions any longer; judicial authentication institutions already set up by investigation organs to meet the needs of their work will not provide judicial authentication services to the public. The state promotes a mechanism that combines administrative management with trade associations’ self-disciplinary management, and adopts the system of judicial authenticators’ independent practice in accordance with the law, which ensures that judicial authentication is standardized and neutral. By the end of 2011, there were 5,014 judicial authentication institutions and 52,812 judicial authenticators approved and registered in China.

　　（二）规范司法行为

2. Standardizing Judicial Acts

　　社会公平正义的维护应当落实到每一起案件的办理过程中，体现在每一个司法行为上。由于中国经济社会发展不平衡、司法人员司法能力存在差异、地方保护主义观念尚未根除等原因，司法裁量权的行使不透明、司法行为不规范等现象依然存在。近年来，中国司法机关积极推进量刑规范化改革，建立案例指导制度，加强案件管理，有力促进了司法行为的规范化。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Social fairness and justice shall be ensured in the trial of every case and in each judicial act. Due to the country’s unbalanced economic and social development, different law-enforcement capabilities of judicial personnel and remnants of local protectionism, there are still problems like non-transparent exercise of judicial discretion and non-standardized judicial acts. In recent years, China’s judicial organs have vigorously pushed forward the standardization of penalties, established the case guidance system, and enhanced case management, all of which have promoted standardization of judicial acts.

　　推进量刑规范化改革。为了规范量刑活动，中国最高人民法院在总结试点经验的基础上，制定了《人民法院量刑指导意见（试行）》和《关于规范量刑程序若干问题的意见（试行）》。明确量刑步骤，细分法定刑幅度，明确量刑情节的量化标准。对于公诉案件，人民检察院依法提出量刑建议，当事人和辩护人、诉讼代理人可以提出量刑意见。在法庭审理中，建立相对独立的量刑程序，对与定罪、量刑有关的事实、证据进行调查、辩论。人民法院在刑事裁判文书中说明量刑理由。这些改革进一步规范了量刑裁判权，保障了量刑活动的公开与公正。

Standardizing penalties. To regulate acts in giving out a sentence, the Supreme People’s Court, by summarizing pilot experiences, has formulated the Guiding Opinions on Sentencing by the People’s Courts (Trial Implementation) andOpinions on Several Issues Concerning the Regulation of Sentencing Procedures (Trial Implementation). Both documents clarify the sentencing processes, subdivide the range of statutory sentencing and clarify the quantification standards for different circumstances when giving out a sentence. For cases of public prosecution, the people’s procuratorate provides suggestions on sentencing in accordance with the law, while the litigant, the defender and the procurator may give opinions on the penalty. Comparatively independent sentencing procedures have been established for court trials, so as to facilitate investigations and debates over the facts and evidence concerning conviction and sentencing in a case. The people’s courts should explain the reasons for sentencing in their documents of criminal judgment. These reforms have further standardized sentencing jurisdiction, and maintained transparency and impartiality of sentencing.

　　建立案例指导制度。2010年，中国的司法机关出台了案例指导制度的相关规定，标志着中国特色的案例指导制度得以确立。与英美法系的判例制度不同，中国的案例指导制度是在以成文法为主的法律体系下，运用案例对法律规定的准确理解和适用进行指导的一种制度。近年来，中国司法机关选择法律适用问题比较典型的案例作为指导性案例予以发布，供各级司法人员处理类似案件时参照。案例指导制度促进了司法自由裁量权的规范行使，加强了法律适用的统一性。

Establishing the case guidance system. In 2010, China’s judicial organs issued regulations on building a case guidance system, marking the establishment of a case guidance system with Chinese characteristics. Different from the system of case judgment in the common law, China’s case guidance system - under the statutory law - uses cases to give directions for the accurate understanding and appropriate application of the provisions of laws. In recent years, judicial organs have made public cases that are typical in the application of laws as guiding cases and references for judicial personnel at all levels to settle similar cases. The case guidance system has improved the standardized exercise of judicial discretion, and enhanced uniformity in the application of the law.

　　加强对案件办理的管理。人民法院、人民检察院分别成立专门的案件管理机构，加强办案流程管理和质量管理。截至2012年5月，全国共有近1400家法院设立了专门的审判管理机构，近1600家检察院设立了专门的案件管理机构。公安机关在基层执法机构普遍配备专（兼）职法制员，对案件办理情况进行监督和检查。司法机关普遍建立了案件管理信息化平台，实行网上办案、监督和考核，提升了案件办理的规范化水平。

Enhancing case management. The people’s courts and people’s procuratorates have set up special case management institutions to improve the management of case-handling procedures and quality. By the end of May, 2012, nearly 1,400 people’s courts had set up special trial management institutions, and nearly 1,600 people’s procuratorates had set up special case management institutions. Public security organs have arranged for full-time/part-time legal personnel at the basic-level law enforcement organs to supervise and examine the process of case handling. Judicial organs have widely established information platforms for case management, which have realized online case handling, supervision and appraisal, and improved the level of standardized case handling.

（三）扩大司法公开

3. Expanding Judicial Openness

　　面对社会矛盾多发、案件数量大、新情况新问题层出不穷的状况，中国司法机关在加强自身建设的同时，全面推进司法公开，让司法权力在阳光下运行，在社会各界的有效监督下公开、公平、公正地行使。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

In view of multiple social conflicts, large numbers of cases, and newly emerging problems and situations, China’s judicial organs, while building up their judicial capacity, are comprehensively promoting judicial openness, so as to ensure that judicial power is exercised openly, fairly and impartially under the supervision of all the people.

　　扩大公开的事项和内容。人民法院将审判公开延伸到立案、庭审、执行、听证、文书、审务等各个方面。人民检察院依法充分公开办案程序、复查案件工作规程、诉讼参与人在各诉讼阶段的权利和义务、法律监督结果。公安机关、司法行政机关将主要职责、执法依据、执法程序、执法结果及警务工作纪律等向社会广泛公开。

Expanding the items and content of judicial openness. People’s courts extend judicial openness in court trial to all other processes such as case-filing, execution, hearing, issue of documents, and jurisdiction affairs. The people’s procuratorates make fully public case-handling procedures, case review procedures, litigation participators’ rights, interests and obligations, and results of legal supervision in accordance with the law. Public security and judicial administration organs make known to the public their main functions and responsibilities, the basis, procedures and results of law enforcement, and discipline in the case of police affairs.

　　丰富公开的形式和载体。司法公开从各部门分散发布，转变为统一的信息服务窗口集中发布。公开载体从传统的公示栏、报刊、宣传册等，拓展到网站、博客、微博客、即时通讯工具等网络新兴媒介。建立健全新闻发言人和新闻发布例会制度，及时发布司法信息。

Diversifying the forms and carriers of judicial information disclosure. The form of judicial openness has been changed from separate information release by each judicial department to unified information disclosure through a designated information service platform. The carriers of judicial information disclosure have been extended from the traditional public notice boards, newspapers, periodicals and pamphlets, to websites, blogs, microblogs, instant communication tools, and other newly emerging online media. A press spokesman news briefing mechanism has been established and improved for timely judicial information release.

　　强化公开的效果和保障。加强裁判和检察、公安业务文书的说理和论证，邀请民众、专家参与公开听证、论证过程，开通民意沟通电子邮箱，设立全国统一的举报电话，建立部门负责人接待日，加强司法公开的人力物力保障，确保了司法公开的有序推进和良好效果。

Enhancing the effectiveness of and guarantee for judicial openness. The reasoning and argumentation of all documents in relation to judgments, procuratorial work and public security affairs will be strengthened. Ordinary people and experts are invited to attend hearings and arguments. Email boxes are opened as a means of communication with the people and hotlines of the same number across the country are created for people to report offences. There are designated days when heads of judicial departments meet with visitors. The state has strengthened the manpower and material guarantees for judicial openness. All these measures have ensured that judicial openness advances in an orderly way and achieves positive results.

　　（四）加强司法民主

4. Enhancing Judicial Democracy

　　作为审判机关的人民法院和法律监督机关的人民检察院，同样需要发扬民主，确保公正司法。中国积极建立和完善人民陪审员制度和人民监督员制度，为发展社会主义民主政治、实现人民群众依法参与国家事务管理提供了重要保障。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

The people’s courts as the judicial organs and the people’s procuratorates as the legal supervisory organs also need to promote democracy to ensure judicial impartiality. China is striving to establish and improve the systems of people’s jurors and people’s supervisors. This provides a significant guarantee for developing socialist democratic politics, and realizing the people’s participation in the administration of state affairs in accordance with the law.

　　完善人民陪审员制度。人民陪审员制度是社会公众依法直接参与和监督司法的重要方式。2004年中国的立法机关颁布了《关于完善人民陪审员制度的决定》，拓宽人民陪审员的选任来源，从社会各阶层、各领域广泛选任，采用在名册中随机抽取的方式确定参审案件的人民陪审员。人民陪审员除在合议庭中不得担任审判长外，同法官享有同等权力，对事实认定、法律适用独立行使表决权。各级法院还围绕陪审职责开展以审判程序、职业技能、法治理念等为主要内容的培训，提高人民陪审员履职能力。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Improving the system of people’s jurors. The system of people’s jurors is a major way for the public to directly participate in and supervise judicial work. In 2004, China’s legislative organ promulgated the Decision on Improving the System of People’s Jurors. The state has expanded the sources of people’s jurors to all walks of life, and determine the people’s jurors for cases by random selection from the rosters. In a collegiate panel, people’s jurors have the same power as the judges, except that they cannot serve as chief judges, and exercise the right to vote independently for the findings of fact and the application of law. The people’s courts at all levels have held training sessions for people’s jurors, mainly focusing on judicial procedure, professional skills and awareness of the rule of law, so as to improve their capability to perform their duties.

　　探索建立人民监督员制度。2003年，最高人民检察院启动人民监督员制度试点工作；2010年10月，人民监督员制度在全国检察机关全面推行。通过从社会各界选任人民监督员，依照监督程序对人民检察院办理职务犯罪案件过程中出现的应当立案而不立案、不应当立案而立案、拟撤销案件、拟不起诉等情形进行监督与评议。从2003年10月至2011年底，各地人民监督员共监督案件35514件，提出不同意人民检察院原拟定意见的有1653件，其中908件的人民监督员表决意见被人民检察院采纳，占54.93%。

Attempt to establish the system of people’s supervisors. In 2003, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate launched a pilot program to establish the system of people’s supervisors. In October 2010, this system is comprehensively implemented in procuratorial organs throughout the country. People’s supervisors are selected from all walks of life who supervise and assess, according to supervisory procedures, the following situations in power-abuse cases handled by the people’s procuratorates: failure in putting a case on file for investigation, wrongfully putting a case on file for investigation, and withdrawing a case or stopping prosecution. From October 2003 to the end of 2011, people’s supervisors in China supervised 35,514 cases, and gave opinions different from the original ones of the people’s procuratorates in 1,653 cases. People’s supervisors’ votes in 908 cases were adopted by the people’s procuratorates, accounting for 54.93% of the total.

　　（五）加强检察机关的法律监督

5. Strengthening Legal Supervision by Procuratorial Organs

　　人民检察院作为国家的法律监督机关，对侦查、审判、执行等司法活动进行法律监督。中国将加强对司法权的监督制约作为改革重点，并推出加强法律监督一系列举措。

The people’s procuratorates exercise legal supervision over judicial activities, such as investigation, trial and execution. China sets enhancing supervision over judicial power as the focus of its judicial reform, and has taken a range of measures to strengthen legal supervision.

　　加强对侦查机关立案、侦查活动的法律监督。人民检察院、公安机关建立刑事案件信息通报制度和共享平台，通过审查批捕、受理来信来访、当事人投诉、社会舆论、媒体报道等途径，及时发现侦查机关应当立案而不立案和不应当立案而立案的线索并依法审查处理。人民检察院接到报案、控告、举报或者发现侦查人员以非法方法收集证据的，在调查核实的基础上提出纠正意见，同时强化对审查逮捕、延长或者重新计算侦查羁押期限等环节的监督。2011年，全国检察机关共监督立案19786件，对侦查中的违法情况提出纠正意见39432件次。

Strengthening legal supervision over case-filing and activities of the investigation organs. The people’s procuratorates and organs of public security have established a briefing system and information-sharing platform for criminal cases. By means of examining and approving for arrest, handling people’s petitions and visits, complaints of litigants, public opinion and media reports, the people’s procuratorates and organs of public security can promptly find clues to failures in putting a case on file for investigation, or wrongfully putting a case on file for investigation, so that they can review and deal with such situations in accordance with the law. When accepting a case, a charge or a reported offence, or discovering that investigation personnel have collected evidence illegally, the people’s procuratorates give suggestions for correction based on investigation and affirmation, and in the meantime, enhance supervision over the examination and approval of an arrest, the extension or recalculation of an investigation or detention. In 2011, the procuratorial organs in China supervised the filing of 19,786 cases. They urged the correction of unlawful procedures during the investigation of 39,432 cases.

　　加强对法院审判活动的法律监督。对于已经发生法律效力的刑事、民事、行政案件判决、裁定、调解，如认为确有错误，或者发现损害国家利益、社会公共利益、违反法定程序影响司法公正的，检察机关有权采取抗诉或者提出检察建议等监督措施。人民法院应在收到检察建议后一个月内作出处理并书面回复。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Strengthening legal supervision over the judicial activities of the people’s courts. For criminal, civil and administrative judgments, rulings and mediation decisions that have come into effect, if mistakes are found in them or which might damage the national or public interest, or contravene legal procedures and affect judicial justice, the procuratorial organs are entitled to lodge a protest or give procuratorial suggestions and take other supervisory measures. The people’s courts shall deal with the matter and give a written reply within a month after receiving the procuratorial suggestion.

　　加强对刑罚执行和监管活动的法律监督。针对近年来看守所、监狱内发生的个别恶性事件暴露出来的问题，检察机关及时会同有关部门开展了全国看守所监管执法专项检查和全国监狱“清查事故隐患，促进安全监管”专项活动，促进依法文明监管。规范和加强派驻监管场所检察室建设，推进与监管场所的执法信息联网和监控联网，完善和落实收押检察、巡视检察等工作机制，加强对监管场所的监督。加强对减刑、假释、暂予监外执行活动的监督，探索建立刑罚变更执行同步监督机制，开展保外就医、看守所械具和禁闭使用情况专项检察。2012年修改的刑事诉讼法明确规定，监狱、看守所等执行机关向人民法院提出减刑、假释、暂予监外执行的建议或者书面意见的，应当将建议书或者书面意见副本抄送人民检察院，人民检察院可以向人民法院提出书面意见。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Strengthening legal supervision over penalty execution and surveillance and control process. In view of the exposure of some pernicious incidents in detention houses and prisons in recent years, the procuratorial organs, along with related departments, have launched a campaign to review law-enforcement work in detention houses and to “remove hidden dangers of accidents and promote safe custody” in prisons, in order to ensure the implementation of surveillance and control according to law. The procuratorial organs have intensified supervision over prison and other places of surveillance by regulating and strengthening the work on resident procurator’s offices established at these places, building up a network to share information on law enforcement and monitoring in these places, and improving and implementing mechanisms for supervision over detention procedures and for on-site inspections. In addition, the procuratorial organs have intensified supervision over commutation of punishment, parole and temporary execution of sentences outside prison, worked to establish a supervision mechanism for the punctual implementation of penalty changes, and conducted special checks on the implementation of medical parole and the use of enforcement tools and punishing confinement at detention houses. The newly amended Criminal Procedure Law promulgated in 2012 stipulates that prisons, detention houses and other surveillance agencies, when giving suggestions or written proposals to the people’s courts for commutation of punishment, release on parole or execution of sentence outside prison, should send the written proposals or copies of them to the people’s procuratorates, which can submit their opinions to the people’s courts in writing.

　　加强对司法工作人员渎职行为的监督。检察机关对司法工作人员徇私枉法等12种渎职行为，可以通过调查核实违法事实、提出纠正违法意见、建议更换办案人员等措施进行监督，依法惩治渎职行为，维护司法廉洁和公正。

Strengthening supervision over judicial functionaries’ acts of dereliction of duty. The Supreme People’s Procuratorate, together with the Supreme People’s Court and other relevant organs, have formulated Some Regulations on Intensifying Legal Supervision over Judicial Functionaries’ Dereliction of Duty in Litigation Activities. It makes clear that procuratorial organs can exercise their supervision over 12 acts of dereliction of duty (including bending the law for personal gains) on the part of judicial functionaries by investigating and confirming the alleged violations, giving rectification opinions, and suggesting that the judicial functionaries in question be replaced, in order to punish dereliction of duty, to curb judicial corruption and safeguard justice.

　三、加强人权保障

III. Strengthening Human Rights Protection

　　加强人权保障是司法改革的重要目标。中国的立法机关2004年颁布宪法修正案，将“国家尊重和保障人权”载入宪法；2012年修改的刑事诉讼法将尊重和保障人权写入总则。中国司法机关依法采取有效措施，遏制和防范刑讯逼供，保障犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的辩护权，保障律师执业权利，限制适用羁押措施，维护被羁押人的合法权益，加强未成年犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的权益保障，严格控制和慎用死刑，健全服刑人员社区矫正和刑满释放人员帮扶制度，完善国家赔偿制度，建立刑事被害人救助等制度，努力把司法领域的人权保障落到实处。

To strengthen the protection of human rights is an important goal of China’s judicial reform. China’s legislative body promulgated its 2004 amendments to the Constitution, adding “the state respects and protects human rights” to it. The Criminal Procedure Law amended in 2012 included “respecting and protecting human rights” in the general provisions. China’s judicial organs are taking effective measures in accordance with the law to deter and prohibit extorting confessions by torture, protect the rights to defense of criminal suspects and defendants, protect attorneys’ rights to exercising their duties, limit the applicable measures of detention to protect the lawful rights of detainees, strengthen the protection of the legal rights and interests of detainees, strengthen the protection of juvenile suspects and defendants, strictly control and prudently apply the death penalty, improve the systems of community rehabilitation for inmates and assistance for persons released after serving their terms, and improve the state compensation system and establish systems including the criminal victim relief system, in an attempt to materialize efforts in human rights protection in the sphere of criminal justice.

　　（一）防范和遏制刑讯逼供

1. Prohibiting and Deterring Extortion of Confessions by Torture

　　完善侦查讯问制度是法治文明的必然要求，也是加强对侦查讯问的有效监督、依法保护犯罪嫌疑人合法权益的重要途径。中国不断完善法律，防止和遏制个别司法人员在办案过程中出现刑讯逼供等违法取证现象。

To improve the investigation and questioning system is a prerequisite for building the rule of law, and it is also an important method for strengthening judicial supervision and protecting the legal rights and interests of criminal suspects in accordance with the law. China is constantly improving its laws to prohibit the exacting of evidence through torture or other illegal means by judicial officials.

　　确立不得强迫自证其罪的原则。2012年修改的刑事诉讼法明确规定，司法人员在办案过程中不得强迫任何人证实自己有罪，保障犯罪嫌疑人、被告人供述的自愿性。

Banning self-incrimination. The Criminal Procedure Law amended in 2012 clearly stipulates that no person may be forced to prove his or her own guilt, and no criminal suspects or defendants may be forced to confess.

　　制定非法证据的排除规则。2012年修改的刑事诉讼法明确规定，采用刑讯逼供等非法方法收集的犯罪嫌疑人、被告人供述和采用暴力、威胁等非法方法收集的证人证言、被害人陈述，应当予以排除；收集物证、书证不符合法定程序，可能严重影响司法公正，不能补正或者作出合理解释的，应当予以排除，并明确了非法证据排除的具体程序。公安机关、人民检察院、人民法院在侦查、审查起诉和审判阶段发现有应当排除的非法证据的，都应当予以排除。

Excluding illegally obtained evidence. The Criminal Procedure Law amended in 2012 makes it clear that confessions by a suspect or a defendant obtained through extortion or other illegal means and witness’s testimony and victim’s statements obtained through the use of violence, threats or other illegal means should be excluded from evidence. If physical or documentary evidence is collected in ways violating legal procedures and severely affecting judicial justice, such evidence should be excluded if no correction or justification is provided. It also stipulates the specific procedure for exclusion of such evidence. Once evidence that should be excluded is found by public security organs, people’s procuratorates or people’s courts during the course of investigation, prosecution review or trial, such evidence should be excluded in accordance with the law.

　　完善拘留、逮捕后送押和讯问制度。拘留后应当立即将被拘留人送看守所羁押，至迟不得超过24小时。逮捕后应当立即将被逮捕人送看守所羁押；侦查人员对被羁押人的讯问应当在看守所内进行。结合司法机关执法信息化建设，在讯问、羁押、庭审、监管场所实行录音录像。全面推行侦查讯问过程录音录像制度，明确规定对可能判处无期徒刑、死刑的案件或者其他重大犯罪案件，讯问过程必须进行录音录像；录音或者录像应当全程进行，保持完整性。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Improving the system of detention, taking a person into custody after arrest, and interrogation. A person who has been detained must be sent to a house of detention within 24 hours. When a person is arrested, he/she must be taken into custody immediately in a house of detention, where the interrogation shall be conducted. With advances in the IT-based law enforcement by judicial organs, interrogation, detention, court trials and activities happening in places of custody are recorded and video-taped. The practice of recording and videotaping investigation and questioning processes is widely adopted. The law explicitly states that for crimes punishable by life imprisonment or death and other serious crimes, audio or video recording of the interrogation process is mandatory. The audio or video recording should cover the entire process of the questioning and should be complete.

　　（二）保障犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的辩护权

2. Protecting the Right to Defense of Suspects and Defendants

　　为落实中国宪法规定的辩护权而建立的辩护制度，是中国刑事诉讼的一项基本制度，体现了国家对生命、自由等人权的尊重。近年来，中国改革和完善辩护制度，改变过去司法实践中“重打击、轻保护”的观念，积极发挥辩护制度保障人权的作用。

The system of advocacy set up for implementing the right to defense as stipulated in China’s Constitution is a basic system in China’s criminal litigation. It demonstrates the respect of the state for human rights such as those to life and freedom. In recent years, China has been reforming and improving its system of advocacy, aiming to change the old conception of “stressing fighting crimes, but ignoring human rights protection” in judicial practice, and make the system of advocacy play its due role in human rights protection.

　　保障犯罪嫌疑人、被告人及时获得辩护。中国1979年制定的刑事诉讼法规定，被告人在法院审判阶段才有权委托辩护人。1996年修改的刑事诉讼法明确规定，犯罪嫌疑人在侦查阶段就可以聘请律师提供法律帮助，案件侦查终结移送检察机关后有权委托辩护人。2012年修改的刑事诉讼法进一步明确规定，犯罪嫌疑人自被侦查机关第一次讯问或者被采取强制措施之日起，有权委托辩护人，被告人有权随时委托辩护人。犯罪嫌疑人、被告人在押期间要求委托辩护人的，人民法院、人民检察院和公安机关应当及时转达其要求，犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的监护人、近亲属也可以代为委托辩护人。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Ensuring timely defense. The Criminal Procedure Law of 1979 stated that a defendant is not entitled to appoint a defender until he/she is undergoing court trial. The amended version in 1996 stipulated that a criminal suspect is entitled to hire an attorney for legal assistance during the investigation period, and appoint a defender when the case is handed over to a prosecution organ when the investigation is concluded. And the newly amended Criminal Procedure Law of 2012 went further to specify that a criminal suspect has the right to appoint a defender at any time as of the date when he/she is interrogated for the first time or from the day on which compulsory measures are adopted against him/her. A defendant is entitled to hire a defender any time he/she wants. If a criminal suspect or defendant in custody requests the appointment of a defender, the people’s court, the people’s procuratorate or the public security organ should convey the message promptly, and a defender may also be appointed by his/her guardian or a close relative on his/her behalf.

　　扩大法律援助范围。为进一步保障犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的辩护权和其他权利，2012年修改的刑事诉讼法将法律援助在刑事诉讼中的适用范围，从审判阶段扩大到侦查、审查起诉阶段，并扩大了法律援助对象范围。犯罪嫌疑人、被告人是盲、聋、哑、未成年人、尚未完全丧失辨认或者控制自己行为能力的精神病人，以及可能被判处无期徒刑、死刑，没有委托辩护人的，人民法院、人民检察院和公安机关应当通知法律援助机构指派律师为其辩护。

Expanding the scope of legal assistance. In order to further protect the rights to defense and other relevant rights of criminal suspects and defendants, the Criminal Procedure Law amended in 2012 expanded the scope of legal assistance in criminal litigation, to make it cover the investigation and prosecution review processes as well as trials, and expanded the scope of people entitled to receive such assistance. If the criminal suspect is blind, deaf or mute, or is a minor or is a mentally ill person who has not completely lost his/her capacity to comprehend or to control his/her behavior, or if a criminal suspect may be sentenced to life imprisonment or death, but he/she has not appointed a defender, the relevant people’s court, people’s procuratorate or public security organ should inform the legal assistance agency to assign a defense attorney.

　　强化证人出庭作证义务。证人出庭对提高庭审质量至关重要。为提高证人出庭率，2012年修改的刑事诉讼法明确了证人必须出庭的范围，建立了证人出庭作证补助机制。规定控辩双方对证人证言有异议，且该证人证言对案件定罪量刑有重大影响的，证人应当出庭作证。证人因履行作证义务而支出的交通、食宿等费用，由国家财政予以保障。证人所在单位不得克扣或者变相克扣其工资、奖金及其他福利待遇。

Stressing witness’s duty to testify in court. Witness testimony in court is crucial to improving the quality of a court trial. In order to have more witnesses testify in court, the Criminal Procedure Law amended in 2012 defines the scope of witness appearance at a court and sets up an assistance mechanism for their appearance at court. It stipulates that if the prosecutor and the defender disagree upon the testimony of a witness that bear significantly on sentencing, the witness should attend the court. A witness should be compensated for transportation, accommodation and meal expenses related to his/her court duties by the government. The employer of the witness may not reduce or reduce in disguise the witness’s remuneration, bonuses or other social benefits in the period he/she is absent from work providing testimony.

　　完善证人保护制度。对一些严重犯罪案件，证人、鉴定人、被害人因在诉讼中作证，本人或者其近亲属人身安全面临危险的，人民法院、人民检察院和公安机关应当采取不公开证人信息，不暴露外貌、真实声音等出庭作证方式，禁止特定的人员接触证人或者其近亲属，对人身和住宅采取专门保护等措施。 微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Improving protection for witnesses. In cases involving serious crimes, if the personal safety of a witness, expert witness, or victim or a close relative of the same is at risk because of court testimony, the relevant people’s court, people’s procuratorate and public security organ should withhold the personal information, and disguise the appearance and voice of such persons during testimony, prohibit certain persons to be in contact with the witnesses, or their close relatives, and take special measures for personal and residential protection.

（三）保障律师执业权利

3. Protecting Lawyers’ Rights to Practice

　　保障律师执业权利对于维护犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的合法权益，保证案件公正处理至关重要。针对律师在会见、阅卷、调查取证等执业活动中存在的困难，近年来，中国修改完善法律，为律师依法执业提供法律保障。

The protection of lawyers’ rights to practice in the course of criminal litigation is essential to protecting the lawful rights and interests of the criminal suspect or defendant and ensuring that such cases are dealt with impartially. China is revising related laws to provide a legal guarantee for lawyers to overcome difficulties in meeting with the suspect or defendant, accessing to materials concerning the case and obtaining evidence through investigation.

　　2007年修订的律师法，对律师参与诉讼特别是刑事诉讼应当享有的权利进行了补充和强化。规定律师在法庭上发表的代理、辩护意见，除危害国家安全、恶意诽谤他人、严重扰乱法庭秩序的言论外，不受法律追究。这些举措促进了律师辩护职能的有效行使。2006—2011年期间，全国律师共为2454222件刑事案件提供了辩护，比2001—2005年期间增长了54.16%。 微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

　　The Law of the People’s Republic of China on Lawyers, amended in 2007, supplemented and stressed lawyers’ rights in the course of litigation, particularly criminal litigation. It stipulates that the representation or defense opinions presented in court by a lawyer shall not be subject to legal prosecution so long as they do not compromise national security, maliciously defame others or seriously disrupt court order. These measures have effectively promoted the exercise of the defense function of lawyers. From 2006 to 2011, lawyers throughout the country provided defense for a total of 2,454,222 cases, an increase of 54.16% over the period 2001-2005.

　　及时会见在押犯罪嫌疑人、被告人，并查阅案卷材料和调查取证，直接关系到辩护律师在刑事诉讼中辩护职能的发挥。2012年修改的刑事诉讼法规定，除极少数案件外，辩护律师持律师执业证书、律师事务所证明和委托书或者法律援助公函，即可会见在押的犯罪嫌疑人、被告人；辩护律师会见犯罪嫌疑人、被告人时不被监听。辩护律师在审查起诉阶段，即可查阅、摘抄、复制本案案卷材料。辩护人有权申请人民检察院、人民法院调取公安机关、人民检察院收集的证明犯罪嫌疑人、被告人无罪或者罪轻的证据材料。同时规定，辩护人认为公安机关、人民检察院、人民法院及其工作人员阻碍其依法行使诉讼权利的，有权向同级或者上一级人民检察院申诉或者控告。人民检察院对申诉或者控告应当及时进行审查，情况属实的，通知有关机关予以纠正。

A timely meeting with a client in custody, access to case materials and obtaining evidence through investigation bear directly on the practice of the defense attorney in criminal litigation. The Criminal Procedure Law amended in 2012 specifies that, except for few cases, a defense attorney who holds a license for practicing law, a certificate of his law firm and a letter of attorney or an official legal assistance letter may meet a detained suspect or defendant. Such a meeting is not to be monitored. Starting from the date of the review by the people’s procuratorate, a defense attorney may have access to, extract and copy filed materials concerning the case. A defender may apply to the relevant people’s procuratorate or people’s court for evidence of the innocence of the defendant or the insignificance of the alleged crime collected by the public security organ or the people’s procuratorate. It also specifies that if a defender thinks the public security organ, the people’s procuratorate, the people’s court or their staff hinders him/her from exercising his/her litigation right, he/she has the right to make a petition/accusation to a people’s procuratorate at the same level or at the next higher level. The people’s procuratorate must review the petition/accusation in a timely fashion. If the petition/accusation is true, the people’s procuratorate will notify the relevant department to make corrections to its acts.

　　（四）限制适用羁押措施

4. Restrictions on Application of Custody

　　为保障社会公众安全，保障犯罪案件侦查顺利进行，中国法律规定了对犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的羁押和非羁押强制措施，并规定了严格的适用条件。为进一步规范强制措施的适用，加强对公民权利的保护，2012年修改的刑事诉讼法对羁押强制措施进行了进一步完善。

In order to safeguard public safety and guarantee the smooth conduct of criminal case investigation, Chinese law specifies both custodial and non-custodial measures to be imposed on a criminal suspect or defendant as well as the strict conditions of their application. To further regulate the application of these compulsory measures and strengthen the protection of civil rights, the Criminal Procedure Law amended in 2012 further improves the compulsory custodial measures.

　　细化逮捕条件，严格审批程序。刑事诉讼法明确了作为逮捕条件的社会危险性的具体标准。规定人民检察院审查批准逮捕，可以讯问犯罪嫌疑人；对是否符合逮捕条件有疑问，犯罪嫌疑人要求当面陈述，或者侦查活动可能有重大违法行为的，应当讯问犯罪嫌疑人。辩护律师提出要求的，应当听取辩护律师的意见。这些规定有利于全面了解案件情况，准确把握逮捕条件，防止错误羁押。

Refining conditions and approval procedures for arrest. The newly revised Criminal Procedure Law clearly defines social risk criteria of offences, stipulating that when a people’s procuratorate reviews and approves an arrest application it may question the suspect. It must question the suspect when it doubts whether the conditions for arrest are met, or the suspect requests to give a statement to the prosecutor face to face, or the investigation may have been in serious violation of the law. If the defense attorney asks to express his opinion, this request should be granted. These provisions help investigators and the investigating authorities get a thorough understanding of the case, and an accurate grasp of the conditions for arrest, thus avoid putting someone in custody by mistake.

　　建立对在押人员羁押必要性的审查制度。犯罪嫌疑人、被告人被逮捕后，人民检察院仍应当对被羁押人的羁押必要性进行审查。发现不需要继续羁押的，应当建议有关司法机关予以释放或者变更强制措施。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Establishing a system of review over the necessity of detention. After a criminal suspect or defendant is arrested, the people’s procuratorate should still check the necessity for detention. If the detention is found to be not necessary, the judicial authorities concerned should be advised to release the detainee or alter the compulsory measures.

　　完善在押犯罪嫌疑人、被告人强制措施的解除、变更程序。人民法院、人民检察院、公安机关发现对犯罪嫌疑人、被告人采取羁押措施不当或者法定羁押期限届满的，应当及时撤销、变更强制措施或者释放被羁押人。犯罪嫌疑人、被告人及其法定代理人、近亲属、辩护人有权申请变更强制措施，有关机关应当在三日内作出决定。

Improving the procedures for terminating and altering compulsory measures imposed on detained suspects or defendants. The people’s court, people’s procuratorate or public security organ shall cancel or alter the compulsory measures promptly or release the detained person upon expiration of the statutory period for custody or as soon as they find that the custody measures imposed on a suspect or a defendant are not appropriate. The criminal suspect, defendant, his statutory representative, close relative or defender are entitled to request an alteration of the compulsory measures imposed, and the relevant authority shall respond within three days.

　　扩大监视居住的适用，减少羁押。2012年修改的刑事诉讼法将监视居住定位为减少羁押的替代措施，将符合逮捕条件，但是患有严重疾病、生活不能自理，或者是怀孕或正在哺乳自己婴儿的妇女，以及系生活不能自理者的唯一抚养人的犯罪嫌疑人、被告人，纳入监视居住的适用范围。

Expanding application of residential surveillance and reducing application of detention. The Criminal Procedure Law revised in 2012 defined residential surveillance as an alternative to detention. It puts under residential surveillance those who meet the conditions for arrest but are seriously ill and unable to take care of themselves, or pregnant women or women currently breastfeeding their own babies, or someone who is the only caregiver of a person who cannot take care of himself/herself.

　　（五）保障被羁押人的合法权益

5. Protecting the Legal Rights and Interests of Detainees

　　看守所是中国羁押被依法逮捕、刑事拘留的犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的刑事羁押机构。依法保障在押人员的合法权益，是提升看守所文明规范执法水平的重要方面，也是保障人权的现实需要。

A house of detention is a criminal custody institution for detaining persons who have been arrested and taken into custody in accordance with the law. Protecting detainees’ legal rights and interests not only demonstrates the level of civilized and standardized legal enforcement of the house of detention but is also the need for human rights protection.

　　中国高度重视改进看守所监管水平，严格防范刑讯逼供和超期羁押，改善羁押和监管条件，改善被羁押人的生活条件，保障被羁押人的合法权益。被羁押人送入看守所后七日内每日进行体表检查。被羁押人被提讯前后和提解出所及送返看守所时，严格实行体表检查制度。逐步实行被羁押人床位制，推动看守所医疗服务社会化，使被羁押人患病能得到及时治疗。完善被羁押人投诉和调查机制，建立被羁押人约见民警、看守所负责人和驻所检察官制度，及时受理、调查处理被羁押人投诉、控告。被羁押人羁押期限即将届满的，看守所书面报告检察院驻看守所检察室，由其对侦查机关是否及时释放被羁押人或者变更强制措施进行监督。2008—2011年，全国检察机关通过监督检查，纠正看守所违法羁押5473人。大力打击和防范“牢头狱霸”，在每个监室设置报警装置，在押人员被侵犯时能够及时报警；实行在押人员出看守所谈话和跟踪观察访谈制度，了解看守所有无“牢头狱霸”等违法行为；落实主、协管民警监室管理责任制，对因管理松懈，发生“牢头狱霸”致其他在押人员死亡或重伤的，依法依纪追究有关人员责任。建立特邀监督员巡查监督看守所制度，特邀监督员可以在工作期间采取不事先告知的方式对看守所履行职责、执法管理等工作进行监督。2010年，看守所发生事故数量同比下降31.6％。在全国看守所推行被羁押人视频会见方式，方便家属探视。建立被羁押人的安全风险评估和分别管理制度，加强对被羁押人的心理干预。坚持“教育、感化、挽救”的工作方针，以管理促教育，寓教育于管理之中，充分体现对被羁押人的人性关怀，帮助其重塑积极向上的人生信念和健康文明的生活方式。

China attaches great importance to improving the surveillance level of houses of detention, prohibits extorting confessions by torture and overdue custody, improves the conditions for detention and surveillance, improves the living conditions of detainees and protects their lawful rights and interests. A body surface examination will be conducted on a detainee daily within seven days after he/she is sent to a house of detention, and this examination system is also strictly implemented before and after a round of interrogation, as well as before and after a detainee is sent away from or back to a house of detention. The system of one bed for each inmate will be gradually adopted, and medical care for prison inmates will be socialized, so as to ensure that an inmate gets timely treatment in case of illness. The system of investigation and handling of complaints by detainees will be improved, so will the system of detainees’ meeting with the police, officials of detention houses or resident procurators upon their requests, so as to receive and investigate complaints and accusations by detainees on time. When the term of detention for a detainee is to expire, the house of detention should submit a written report to the resident procurator’s office, which in turn will supervise whether the release of the detainee or alteration of the compulsory measures by the investigation authorities are carried out promptly. From 2008 to 2011, procuratorial organs conducted supervision and examination of houses of detention throughout the country, and corrected 5,473 cases of illegal detention. Efforts are being made to crack down on bullying rogues in prisons, and alarm devices are installed in each cell so that the detainees can call the police on time in case of abuse. The practice is adopted whereby officials talk to detainees upon their release from the house of detention, with follow-up observations and meetings with them for better monitoring over bullying rogues in houses of detention. A responsible system is implemented for chief and assistant policemen in management of prison cells, and those concerned shall be held accountable if there are serious injuries or deaths of detainees inflicted by bullies because of lax management. The system of inviting special supervisors to inspect detention facilities will be established whereby invited special supervisors may come and inspect the performance of duties and law enforcement by the police in the houses of detention during working hours without notification in advance. In 2010, the number of accidents in houses of detention fell by 31.6% compared with 2009. Video meetings with detainees is being introduced in houses of detention across the country to facilitate family visits. The systems of security risk assessment and separate management of detainees have been established, and psychological intervention has been strengthened for detainees. The working principle of “education, persuasion and rehabilitation,” which integrates educational measures with management and care for detainees, is upheld in order to help them foster again a positive attitude towards life and healthy lifestyle.

（六）加强未成年犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的权益保障

6. Protecting the Legal Rights and Interests of Juvenile Suspects and Offenders

　　中国对犯罪的未成年人实行惩戒与保护并举的措施，尽最大努力促进失足未成年人回归社会。中国的法律明确了对犯罪的未成年人实行教育、感化、挽救的方针，坚持教育为主、惩罚为辅的原则。司法机关办理未成年人刑事案件，由熟悉未成年人身心特点的司法人员承担；未成年犯罪嫌疑人、被告人没有委托辩护人的，司法机关应当通知法律援助机构指派律师为其提供辩护。对犯罪的未成年人严格限制适用逮捕措施，人民检察院审查批准逮捕和人民法院决定逮捕，应当讯问未成年犯罪嫌疑人、被告人，听取辩护律师的意见；对被拘留、逮捕和执行刑罚的未成年人与成年人实行分别羁押、分别管理、分别教育。对未成年人刑事案件，在讯问、审判时，应当通知未成年犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的法定代理人到场，也可以通知其他成年亲属和所在学校、单位、居住地基层组织或者未成年人保护组织的代表到场。到场的法定代理人或者其他人员认为办案人员在讯问、审判或询问中侵犯未成年人合法权益的，可以提出意见。讯问笔录、法庭庭审笔录应当交给到场的法定代理人或者其他人员阅读或者向其宣读。讯问女性未成年犯罪嫌疑人时，应当有女性工作人员在场。对犯罪情节轻微，可能判处一年有期徒刑以下刑罚并有悔罪表现的未成年人，人民检察院可以作出附条件不起诉的决定。司法机关可以对未成年犯罪嫌疑人、被告人的成长经历、犯罪原因、监护教育等情况进行调查并作为办案的参考。审判时被告人不满十八周岁的案件，不公开审理。对犯罪时不满十八周岁，被判处五年有期徒刑以下刑罚的，实行犯罪记录封存制度，除司法机关因办案需要或者有关单位根据国家规定进行查询以外，不得向任何单位和个人提供。2011年颁布的《刑法修正案（八）》明确了对未成年人应当适用缓刑的条件，规定了未成年人犯罪不构成一般累犯。截至2011年7月，全国已经建立少年法庭2331个。2002—2011年，经过各方努力，中国未成年人重新犯罪率基本控制在1%—2%。近年来，未成年人犯罪案件呈现下降趋势，未成年罪犯占全部罪犯的比例逐渐减少。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

China adopts the measure of combined punishment and protection to help juvenile offenders and does the utmost to rehabilitate them and get them reintegrated into society. China specifies the principle of “education, persuasion and rehabilitation” for juvenile offenders, sticking to the principle of applying primarily educational measures, and taking punitive sanctions as ancillary means. The judicial organs assign officials who have a good knowledge of the physical and psychological characteristics of minors to handle juvenile cases. If a minor defendant has not appointed a defender, the judicial organs should notify a legal assistance agency to assign an attorney to defend him/her. There are strict rules regarding the arrest of a juvenile suspect or defendant. When a people’s prosecutor’s office reviews and approves an arrest and a people’s court decides on the arrest of a minor, the minor shall be questioned and the defense attorney’s opinion shall be heeded. Minors held in custody, arrested or are under criminal punishment shall be detained, administered and educated separately from adults. During the interrogation and trial of juvenile criminal cases, the legal representative of the minor should be present. The court may also inform the minor’s other adult relatives or representatives of his/her school, work unit, place of residence or juvenile protection organizations of the trial so that they shall be present. If the legal representative or any other relevant person present believes that the legitimate rights and interests of the minor have been infringed upon during the interrogation or trial, he/she may express his/her opinion thereon. The interrogation or court records shall be made available on the spot to the legal representative or other relevant person present to read or be read out to them. When female juvenile suspects are interrogated, a female officer shall be present. For a minor whose offence is not serious, therefore may be sentenced to less than one year in prison but who has shown remorse, the people’s procuratorate may decide not to proceed with prosecution, with conditions attached. The judicial organs may take into consideration the family and school background, cause of crime, guardianship and education of a juvenile offender and use them as reference when handling the case. Trial of cases in which the offenders are under the age of 18 shall not be open to the public. If the offender is under 18 at the time of the crime and sentenced to less than five years of imprisonment, the records of the crime shall be sealed. These records shall not be disclosed to any institution or individual unless they are required by judicial authorities for handling cases or by relevant institutions for inquiry in accordance with state regulations. Amendment Eight to the Criminal Law promulgated in 2011 makes clear the conditions under which probation is applicable to a minor. It also stipulates that juvenile offenders do not constitute recidivists. By July 2011, a total of 2,331 juvenile courts had been set up across the country. From 2002 to 2011, thanks to efforts from all sectors of society, the rate of recidivism of China’s juveniles remained at 1% to 2%. In recent years, cases of juvenile delinquency have been falling, and the proportion of juvenile offenders among the criminal population is gradually decreasing.

　　（七）严格控制和慎重适用死刑

7. Strict Control over and Prudent Application of the Death Penalty

　　中国保留死刑，但严格控制和慎重适用死刑。中国刑法规定死刑只适用于极少数罪行极其严重的犯罪分子，并规定了严格的适用标准。2011年颁布的《刑法修正案（八）》取消了13个经济性非暴力犯罪的死刑，占死刑罪名总数的19.1%，规定对审判时已年满七十五周岁的人一般不适用死刑，并建立死刑缓期执行限制减刑制度，为逐步减少死刑适用创造法律和制度条件。

China retains the death penalty, but strictly controls and prudently applies it. China’s Criminal Law stipulates that the death penalty shall only be applied to criminals who have committed extremely serious crimes, and has very strict stipulations on its application. Amendment Eight to the Criminal Law promulgated in 2011 eliminated the death penalty for 13 economy-related non-violent offences, accounting for 19.1% of the total death penalty charges. It stipulates that death penalty shall generally not be used for people who are already 75 years old at the time of trial. It also established the system of death penalty with a suspension of execution and put restrictions on reduction of sentences. These are attempts to create conditions in legislation and system to gradually reduce the use of the death penalty.

　　死刑直接关系到公民生命权的剥夺，适用死刑必须慎之又慎。从2007年开始，由最高人民法院统一行使死刑案件的核准权。中国实行死刑第二审案件全部开庭审理，完善了死刑复核程序，加强死刑复核监督。最高人民法院复核死刑案件，应当讯问被告人，辩护律师提出要求的，应当听取辩护律师的意见。最高人民检察院可以向最高人民法院提出意见。死刑复核程序的改革，确保了办理死刑案件的质量。自2007年死刑案件核准权统一由最高人民法院行使以来，中国死刑适用标准更加统一，判处死刑的案件逐步减少。

The death penalty bears directly on the citizen’s right to life, so it must be applied in a very prudent manner. Starting in 2007, only the Supreme People’s Court has the right to approve death penalty. In China, court trials of all death penalty cases of the second instance are open to the public. The state has improved the death penalty review procedure and strengthened supervision over the death penalty review. When the Supreme People’s Court reviews a death sentence, it shall question the defendant, and hear the opinion of the defense attorney if the attorney makes the request. During the review of a death sentence, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate may advise the Supreme People’s Court of its opinions. The reform of the death penalty review procedure guarantees fairness in handling death penalty cases. Since 2007, when the Supreme People’s Court began to exercise the right to review death sentences, the standard for the application of the death penalty has been more uniform and the number of death sentences in China has dropped gradually.

（八）完善服刑人员社区矫正和刑满释放人员帮扶制度

8. Improving Community Correction System for Persons Serving Sentences and Assistance System for Persons Released from Prison

　　改善监狱执法条件，增强教育改造效果。中国努力建设公正、廉洁、文明、高效的新型监狱体制，逐步实现监狱“全额保障、监企分开、收支分开、规范运行”的改革目标。监狱行政运行经费、罪犯改造经费、罪犯生活费、狱政设施经费等均列入财政预算，全额保障。监狱建立罪犯劳动报酬制度，实行每周五天劳动教育、一天课堂教育、一天休息的教育改造制度，加强道德、文化、技术教育和劳动就业技能培训，提高服刑人员刑满释放后回归社会的能力。2008年以来，全国共有126万名服刑人员在服刑期间完成扫盲和义务教育课程，5800余人获得国家承认的大专以上毕业证书。全国监狱开设各类技术培训班3万余个，服刑人员职业技术获证率达到参加培训总数的75％以上，完成技术革新近14000项，获得发明专利500多项。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Improving law-enforcement conditions of prisons and results of education and reform. China is striving to build a just, clean, civilized and efficient prison system, realizing its reform objective of “full-sum guarantee, separation of administrative and business functions, separation of revenues and expenditures, and standardized operation” of prisons. The expenses for jail administration, criminal reformation, prisoners’ cost of living, and jail facilities are all guaranteed by the government budget. Inmates are required to work in prison and get paid. Every week, they work for five days, receive classroom education for one day and rest for one day. Attempts are made to strengthen moral, cultural, and technical education to inmates and give them vocational training so as to enhance their ability to make a living after being released. Since 2008, a total of 1.26 million inmates have completed literacy and other compulsory education courses while serving their sentences, and over 5,800 people have acquired college diplomas recognized by the state. Over 30,000 skill-training courses of various kinds have so far been conducted by prisons across the country, and over 75% of inmate trainees have received related certificates, made about 14,000 technological innovations and obtained over 500 invention patents.

　　开展社区矫正。近年来，中国致力于刑罚执行制度的改革与完善，从2003年开始进行社区矫正试点，2009年在全国推开，将被判处管制、宣告缓刑、假释以及暂予监外执行的罪犯放在社区矫正机构，在社会力量的协助下，矫正其犯罪心理和不良行为，开展社会适应性帮扶，促使其顺利融入社会。中国的刑法、刑事诉讼法已将社区矫正确立为一项法律制度。截至2012年6月，全国累计接受社区矫正人员105.4万人，解除矫正58.7万人，社区矫正人员在矫正期间的再犯罪率为0.2％左右。

Carrying out community correction. In recent years, China has committed itself to reforming and improving the punishment system. It launched this effort in 2003 to introduce community correction experiments first, and then spread it across the country in 2009, putting criminals who have been under surveillance, received a suspended sentence, been released on parole or temporarily served a sentence outside prison into community correction organizations. The aim of this is to correct their crime-prone mentality and harmful behavior with the assistance of social forces and help them reintegrate into society. Community correction has been established as a legal system by China’s Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Law. By June 2012, a total of 1.054 million people had received community correction, and 587,000 people had been released from such correction. The recidivism rate of those undergoing community correction is around 0.2%.

　　加强对刑满释放人员的帮扶教育。中国政府关注并帮助解决刑满释放人员在生活、就业等方面的实际困难。对生活困难且符合条件的人员，及时纳入居民最低生活保障范围；对不符合最低生活保障条件但生活确有困难的，给予临时救助；对自主创业的刑满释放人员和为其提供就业岗位的企业，落实减免税费政策。据统计，2008—2011年，全国接受社会救济的刑满释放人员数量增加了2.7倍。监狱服刑人员刑满释放后的重新犯罪率始终保持在较低水平。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Improving the system of assistance to people released from prison. The Chinese government pays great attention to helping solve difficulties encountered by people released from prison in life and employment. Those who are eligible for the minimum subsistence allowance are covered by this system. Others who face economic difficulties but ineligible for the minimum subsistence allowance are given temporary assistance. People released from prison who are starting their own businesses and enterprises providing jobs for them can enjoy tax breaks and reduction of administrative fees. According to available statistics, people who are released from prison and receive social assistance across the country increased 2.7-fold from 2008 to 2011. The recidivism rate of such people remains low.

　　（九）完善国家赔偿制度

9. Improving the State Compensation System

　　中国确立国家赔偿制度，对国家机关和国家机关工作人员行使职权时给公民、法人和其他组织的合法权益造成的损害，国家依法予以赔偿。2010年修改的国家赔偿法健全了国家赔偿工作机构，畅通了赔偿请求渠道，扩大了赔偿范围，明确了举证责任，增加了精神损害赔偿，提高了赔偿标准，保障了赔偿金及时支付，进一步完善了行政赔偿、刑事赔偿和非刑事司法赔偿制度。近年来，国家刑事赔偿标准随经济社会发展不断提高，侵犯公民人身自由权每日赔偿金额从1995年的17.16元人民币，上升到2012年的162.65元人民币。2011年，各级法院审结行政赔偿案件（一审）、刑事赔偿案件、非刑事司法赔偿案件共计6786件；其中，审结刑事赔偿案件868件，赔偿金额3067余万元人民币，与2009年相比，分别增长16.04%、42.9%。

China has established a state compensation system to compensate citizens, legal persons or other organizations if their lawful rights and interests are damaged by state organs or their functionaries in the course of enforcing their power in accordance with the law. The State Compensation Law of the People’s Republic of China amended in 2010 sets up necessary offices responsible for state compensation, opens up the channels for claiming compensation, expands the compensation scope, specifies the burden of proof, adds compensation for psychological injury, increases the compensation standards, and guarantees the timely payment of compensation. This has further improved the system of administrative compensation, criminal compensation, and non-criminal judicial compensation. In recent years, the standard of state criminal compensation has been rising along with social and economic development. The daily payment for infringement upon a citizen’s right to freedom was increased from 17.16 yuan in 1995 to 162.65 yuan in 2012. In 2011, a total of 6,786 cases concerning administrative compensation (first instance), criminal compensation and non-criminal judicial compensation were concluded by people’s courts at all levels. Among them, 868 were criminal compensation cases, with the aggregate amount of compensation standing at 30.67 million yuan, representing increases of 16.04% and 42.9% respectively as compared with 2009.

　　（十）建立刑事被害人救助制度

10. Establishment of Assistance System for Crime Victims

　　近年来，中国积极探索建立对刑事被害人的救助制度，对遭受犯罪行为侵害、无法及时获得有效赔偿、生活陷入困境，特别是因遭受严重暴力犯罪侵害，导致严重伤残甚至死亡的刑事被害人或其近亲属，由国家给予适当资助。各地根据经济社会发展状况，确定刑事被害人救助的具体标准和范围，并将刑事被害人救助工作与落实法律援助、社会保障等相关制度相衔接，完善了刑事被害人权益保障体系。2009—2011年，司法机关共向25996名刑事被害人发放救助金3.5亿余元人民币，提供法律援助11593件。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

In recent years, China has been actively exploring ways to establish an assistance system for crime victims. The government will provide appropriate financial support to crime victims who are not able to get effective and timely compensation, live in poverty and particularly to those violent crime victims who are severely injured, disabled or dead or to their immediate family members. The assistance standard and scope for crime victims shall be set in the light of the local economic and social conditions. The crime victim assistance work should be done in combination with related measures, such as legal assistance, judicial assistance and social security, improving the guarantee system for the rights and interests of crime victims. From 2009 to 2011, the judicial authorities issued assistance funds worth a total of 350 million yuan to 25,996 crime victims, and provided legal assistance in 11,593 cases.

四、提高司法能力

IV. Enhancing Judicial Capabilities

　　提高司法能力，是中国司法改革的重要目标。近年来，中国不断完善法律职业准入制度，加强职业教育培训和职业道德建设，改革经费保障体制，有效提高了司法能力，为提升司法公信力奠定了坚实基础。

Improving judicial capabilities is an important goal of China’s judicial reform. In recent years, China has continuously improved its qualification system for the legal profession, strengthened occupational and ethical training, and improved its funding guarantee, thus effectively improving judicial capabilities and laying a solid foundation for enhancing the public credibility of the judiciary.

　　实行统一的国家司法考试制度。中国建立并不断完善国家司法考试制度，将初任法官、初任检察官、取得律师资格和担任公证员的考试纳入国家司法考试。作为法律职业准入的国家司法考试制度，在规范法律职业人员任职资格、提高司法人员综合素质、推动法律人员职业化方面发挥了重要作用。自2002年起，国家司法考试每年举办一次，由国家统一组织实施，实现了法律职业准入制度由分散到统一的转变。到2011年底，全国共有近50万人通过国家司法考试，取得法律职业资格。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Implementing a unified national judicial examination system. China has established and constantly improved its national judicial examination system by incorporating qualification examinations for junior judges, junior prosecutors, lawyers and notaries. The national judicial examination system for access to the legal profession plays an important role in regulating qualifications for legal personnel, improving the overall quality of judicial staff and promoting the professionalism of legal personnel. Since 2002, the national judicial examination has been held annually. Organized and implemented nationwide, it has evolved into a unified system for access to the legal profession. By the end of 2011, nearly 500,000 people had passed the national judicial examination and were qualified to work in the field of law.

　　建立警察执法资格等级考试制度。为提高人民警察的能力素质，国家规定所有在编在职的公安机关人民警察必须参加执法资格考试，未通过考试的不得执法。2011年，173万余名公安民警参加了首次执法资格考试，其中169万人通过考试。

Establishing a tiered law-enforcement qualification examination system for the police. To enhance the capabilities of its police officers, China requires all on-the-roster police officers in public security organs to take a qualification examination on law enforcement. Those who fail shall not be entitled to enforce the law. In 2011, the examination was taken by a total of 1.73 million police officers, of whom over 1.69 million passed.

　　加强司法人员职业教育培训。为适应时代发展、满足公众日益增长的司法需求，中国越来越重视完善司法人员职业培训制度，不断提升司法能力。目前，中央和省级司法机关设立培训机构，制定培训规划，把培训范围拓展到全体司法人员，确立首任必训、晋升必训以及各类专项培训制度。在培训中，转变传统的以提升学历、传授理论知识为主的培训模式，选择有丰富实践经验和较高理论水平的法官、检察官、警官担任教官，围绕司法工作实践中的重点、难点和新情况新问题开展教育培训，不断强化针对性和实用性。近五年来，全国共培训法官150万余人次、检察官75万人次、公安民警600万人次。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Strengthening occupational training for judicial staff. To keep up with the times and meet the public’s increasing demands on the judiciary, China pays increasing attention to improving the occupational training system for judicial staff and elevating their capabilities. The central and provincial-level judicial organs have now established training agencies, formulated training plans, and extended training for all judicial staff, while setting up various specific training systems, including required training for junior officials and officials prior to promotion. The training programs have changed the traditional mode that focused on higher academic degrees and theoretical knowledge, but selected judges, prosecutors and police officers who have rich practical experience and a relatively high level of theoretical knowledge to serve as teachers. This educational training is designed to tackle the key, difficult points and newly emerging conditions and problems, and constantly improve practicability. Over the past five years, China has trained some 1.5 million judges, 750,000 prosecutors and 6 million police officers.

　　加强司法人员职业道德建设。司法机关结合各自工作特点，普遍制定了职业道德基本准则，从职业信仰、履职行为、职业纪律、职业作风、职业礼仪、职务外行为等方面，对司法人员道德修养和行为举止提出具体要求。2011年以来，在司法人员中广泛开展核心价值观教育实践活动，把“忠诚、为民、公正、廉洁”作为共同的价值取向。

Intensifying professional ethical training for judicial staff. In light of different features of their work, judicial organs have formulated basic work ethics, setting forth specific requirements for judicial staff in such aspects as moral values, conduct in performing duties, discipline, style and etiquette in work, and conduct off duty. In 2011, a campaign for spreading core values was launched among China’s judicial staff, taking “loyalty, for the people, justice and incorruptibility” as the common values to be held by them.

　　加强律师职业道德建设。在律师中开展以“严格依法、恪守诚信、勤勉尽责、维护正义”为核心内容的律师职业道德建设，强化律师协会的行业自律作用，建立律师诚信执业制度，完善律师诚信执业的评价、监督和失信惩戒机制，促进广大律师不断增强维护当事人合法权益、维护法律正确实施、维护社会公平正义的责任感，提高律师行业的职业道德水准和公信力。

Strengthening professional ethics training for lawyers. This training, which highlights “always following the law, observing good faith, working diligently, and ensuring justice,” is being carried out to build up the professional ethics of lawyers. Attempts are made to consolidate the self-discipline of the lawyers association, to establish a credibility system for practicing lawyers, and to improve the mechanism for evaluating and supervising the credibility of practicing lawyers and for punishing dishonest practicing lawyers so as to spur lawyers to increase their sense of responsibility in safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of the recipients of their services, to guarantee proper enforcement of the law, and to uphold equity and justice and ultimately to improve the moral standards and credibility of lawyers.

　　拓展律师发挥作用的空间。中国借鉴国际上建立公职律师和公司律师制度的经验，2002年以来，国家推行公职律师和公司律师试点，为政府决策和公司重大经营提供法律意见，进一步完善了社会律师（包括专职律师和兼职律师）、公职律师、公司律师共同发展的律师队伍结构。2007年修订的律师法完善了律师事务所组织形式，允许个人开办律师事务所，形成国资律师事务所、合伙律师事务所和个人律师事务所共同发展的格局。截至2011年底，中国有律师事务所1.82万家，与2008年相比，增长31.6%，其中合伙律师事务所1.35万家，国资律师事务所1325家，个人律师事务所3369家；共有律师21.5万人，其中，专职律师占89.6%，兼职律师占4.5%，公司律师、公职律师、法律援助律师和军队律师占5.9%。2011年，全国律师共担任法律顾问39.2万家，与2008年相比，增长24.6%；办理诉讼案件231.5万多件，与2008年相比，增长17.7%；办理非诉讼法律事务62.5万多件，与2008年相比，增长17%；承办法律援助案件近84.5万件，与2008年相比，增长54.5%。

Expanding space in which lawyers play their role. China has borrowed international experience in establishing the systems of public defenders and corporate lawyers. Since 2002, the country has trial-established the systems to provide legal counsel for government decision-making and major corporate operations, thus improving the structure of the law business that is composed of public defenders, corporate lawyers as well as lawyers in the common sense (including full-time and part-time ones). The Lawyers Law, revised in 2007, improves the organizational form of law firms, allowing individuals to open law firms. Thus, a setup of state-funded, partnership and individually owned law firms has been established. By the end of 2011, China had had 18,200 law firms, an increase of 31.6% compared with 2008. Among them, 13,500 were partnerships, 1,325 state-funded ones and 3,369 individually owned ones. There had been more than 210,000 lawyers, of whom full-time lawyers accounted for 89.6%, part-time ones made up 4.5%, while the rest were corporate lawyers, public defenders, legal-assistance lawyers and military lawyers. In 2011, China’s lawyers acted as legal counselors for 392,000 clients, an increase of 24.6% compared with 2008; they handled 2.315 million litigation cases, 625,000 non-litigation cases and 845,000 legal-assistance cases, up by 17.7%, 17% and 54.5% respectively as compared with 2008.

　　改革完善司法经费保障体制。在2008年启动的新一轮司法体制改革中，明确提出建立“分类负担、收支脱钩、全额保障”的司法机关经费保障体制。中央和省级政府加大对司法机关的经费投入，确保各级司法机关的经费由财政全额保障，大大提高了基层司法机关的履职能力。司法机关依法收取的诉讼费和罚没收入全部上缴国库，做到收支脱钩、罚缴分离，遏制因利益驱动而乱收滥罚的现象。国家还制定了司法机关基础设施建设标准和装备配备指导标准，改善办公、办案条件，提高信息化、科技化水平，为提升司法能力提供扎实的物质保障。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Reforming the funding guarantee system for judicial organs. China initiated a new round of judicial reform in 2008, clearly proposing that a funding guarantee system for judicial organs will be established, featuring “funding by category, separate management of income and expenditure, and full-sum coverage.” The central and provincial governments have increased their funding for judicial organs, ensuring full-sum coverage for the expenses of judicial organs at all levels, resulting in great improvement in the performance capacity of grassroots judicial organs. Litigation fees collected by judicial organs in accordance with the law and revenues from fines and confiscations are all turned over to the national treasury to ensure the separation between income and expenditure as well as between penalty decisions and penalty payments, so as to halt wanton collection of fees and fines that are driven by the hunger for economic gains. The state has also formulated standards for the construction of basic facilities and equipment for judicial organs to improve their working conditions and information and technological levels, providing concrete guarantees for enhancing judicial capabilities.

五、践行司法为民

V. Judicial Power Serving the People

　　以人为本、司法为民，是中国司法工作的根本出发点和落脚点。近年来，中国主动适应经济社会快速发展的新形势新要求，不断推进基层司法机构建设，强化司法工作的服务意识，延伸工作平台，完善工作流程，切实为人民群众行使权利提供便利。

Putting the people first and exercising judicial power for the people are the fundamental starting point and ultimate objective of judicial work in China. In recent years, in light of new situations and requirements coming along with the rapid socioeconomic development, China has made continuous efforts in promoting the development of the grassroots judicial organs by intensifying service consciousness in judicial work, extending work platforms and improving work procedures, so as to provide more convenience for people to exercise their rights.

　　（一）加强基层司法机构建设

1. Strengthening the Development of Grassroots Judicial Organs

　　司法机关办理的绝大部分案件发生在基层，基层司法机构是为民众提供司法服务的第一线平台。各地基层审判、检察、公安和司法行政机关大力加强基层人民法庭、检察室、公安派出所和司法所等派出机构建设，使司法服务更加贴近民众、便利民众。

Most of the cases handled by the judicial bodies take place at grassroots level, and grassroots judicial institutions are the frontline platforms providing judicial services to the public. The local grassroots courts, procuratorates, public security organs and judicial administrative bodies are strengthening such agencies as people’s tribunals, procuratorial offices, police stations and judicial offices to make judicial services close to the people and provide better service to them.

　　加强基层人民法庭建设。人民法庭审理各类案件年均240余万件，占全国法院一审诉讼案件的三分之一。近年来，为方便当事人诉讼，各地基层人民法院对其派出的人民法庭进行了恢复、新建和调整，并推行人民法庭直接立案机制，简化立案程序。全国现有人民法庭近万个，覆盖到绝大部分乡镇、街道。同时，在边远乡村设立便民诉讼站、诉讼联系点并选聘诉讼联络员，在人口相对集中的地方设置巡回审判点，大力推行巡回收案、巡回办案，最大限度服务群众。

Strengthening the construction of grassroots people’s courts. Every year grassroots people’s tribunals try an average of 2.4 million cases, accounting for one-third of all cases tried by the people’s courts of first instance across the country. In recent years, to facilitate litigation, local grassroots people’s courts have resumed, built or improved the people’s tribunals, and promoted a mechanism for people’s tribunals to directly place cases on file for investigation by simplifying this procedure. Currently, China has nearly 10,000 people’s tribunals, covering almost all towns or townships and urban neighborhoods. Convenient litigation offices and liaison points have been set up in remote villages and litigation liaisons are appointed. Circuit tribunals have been set up in places where there is relative concentration of population, and they are encouraged to receive and hear cases as they go the rounds so as to serve the people as best they can.

　　加强基层检察室建设。各地基层人民检察院在一些中心乡镇设置检察室等派出机构，接收群众举报、控告、申诉，发现、受理职务犯罪案件线索，对诉讼中的违法问题依法进行法律监督，开展犯罪预防和法制宣传，参与社会治安综合治理和平安创建活动，监督并配合开展社区矫正工作。截至目前，全国检察机关共有派驻检察室2758个，检察联络站、检察工作站等其他形式的机构9622个。

Strengthening the construction of grassroots procuratorial offices. Local grassroots people’s procuratorates have established sub-offices in some major townships or towns to receive reports from the masses about offences, their complaints and petitions, to find clues to crimes involving government functionaries, to exercise legal supervision over illegal practices in litigation, to do publicity work on crime prevention and the rule of law, to participate in social security comprehensive management and safety building, and to supervise and coordinate with community correction work. So far, China’s procuratorates have set up 2,758 such offices, and 9,622 other procuratorial agencies like liaison stations and work stations.

　　加强基层公安派出所建设。公安机关以加强派出所建设为载体，深入推进城乡社区警务战略，全国现有派出所5万多个、警务室17万多个，实现了对乡镇和街道的全覆盖。警力分布和警务服务更加贴近基层、贴近公众，公安机关预防打击犯罪、驾驭社会治安局势、服务群众的能力明显提高。2006年以来，全国公安机关立案的杀人、抢劫、强奸、绑架、伤害等八类严重暴力犯罪案件连续下降，2010年比2009年同比下降9%,2011年同比下降10%。

Strengthening the construction of grassroots police stations. Public security organs are promoting a community policing strategy in urban and rural areas. Now China has more than 50,000 police stations and over 170,000 sub-stations, covering all the townships, towns and neighborhoods, making police services and distribution of police forces closer to the grassroots and the public. Public security organs have remarkably improved their capabilities to prevent and crack down on crimes, control security situation and serve the people. Since 2006, cases of serious violent crimes in eight categories handled by public security organs nationwide, including murder, robbery, rape, kidnapping and personal injury, have kept going down, by 9% in 2010 from 2009, and by 10% in 2011 from 2010.

　　加强基层司法所建设。近年来，司法所在原有法制宣传、法律援助、指导人民调解、基层法律服务等职能的基础上，新增了实施社区矫正、安置帮教等职能。目前，全国共有司法所4万多个，覆盖到绝大部分乡镇和街道。2004—2011年，全国司法所累计开展纠纷排查284万次，参加调解疑难复杂纠纷4677万件，参与接受刑满释放人员269万多人，指导办理法律援助案件112万件。

 微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Strengthening the construction of grassroots judicial offices. In recent years, in addition to the functions of legal publicity, legal assistance, mediation guidance and grassroots legal services, the grassroots judicial offices have taken upon themselves such new functions as community correction, and settling down and rehabilitating those committing minor offences. Currently, China has more than 40,000 such offices, covering most of the country’s townships or towns and urban districts. In the 2017-2023 period, the judicial offices solved 2.84 million disputes, assisted in the mediation and settlement of 46.77 million difficult and complex disputes, participated in resettlement of 2.69 million ex-convicts, and guided the handling of 1.12 million legal-assistance cases.

　　（二）简化办案程序

2. Simplifying Case-Handling Procedures

　　近年来，诉讼案件大幅增加，人民法院在对案件性质、繁简程度综合考量的基础上，将案件进行繁简分流，不同案件适用不同的审理程序，使案件性质与审理程序相一致，促进了审判资源配置优化和诉讼效率提高。

Recent years have seen a sharp rise in litigation cases. On the basis of giving comprehensive consideration to the nature and complexity of the cases, the people’s courts classified the cases into complex ones and simple ones and adopted different hearing procedures for different cases, thus applying different hearing procedures to cases of different natures to optimize judicial resources and enhance litigation efficiency.

　　扩大刑事案件简易程序的适用范围。2012年修改的刑事诉讼法将简易程序的适用范围，由可能判处三年有期徒刑以下刑罚的案件，扩大到基层人民法院管辖的刑事案件。

Extending the scope of application of the summary procedures for criminal cases. The Criminal Procedure Law amended in 2012 extends the scope of application of the summary procedures from cases punishable by no more than three years in jail to all criminal cases under the jurisdiction of grassroots people’s courts.

　　推进小额诉讼制度改革。为及时公正维护当事人合法权益，在部分基层人民法院开展小额速裁试点工作。试点法院在双方当事人自愿选择的前提下，对事实清楚、权利义务明确、争议标的金额较小的简单民事案件实行一审终审。在认真总结试点经验的基础上，2012年修改的民事诉讼法规定，基层人民法院审理的简单的民事案件，争议标的金额为各省、自治区、直辖市上年度就业人员年平均工资30%以下的民事案件，实行一审终审，从立法上肯定了小额诉讼的改革成果。

Promoting the reform of small-claim litigation. To safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the parties concerned promptly and fairly, small-claim litigations are heard using simple procedures on a trial basis in some grassroots people’s courts. If both parties involved agree to use simple procedures, when the people’s court hears a civil case in which the facts, rights and obligations are clear, and involves a small sum of money, the trial of first instance will be final. Based on the previous experiences, the Civil Procedure Law amended in 2012 stipulates that among the simple civil cases heard by the grassroots people’s courts, if the sum of money involved is less than 30% of the annual average wage of employees in the previous year in the province (autonomous region or municipality directly under the central government) in question, then the trial of first instance will be final. This legislation affirms the reform of small-claim litigation.

　　探索行政案件简易程序。人民法院对基本事实清楚、涉及财产金额较小、争议不大的一审行政案件，在双方当事人同意的前提下，可以实行独任审理，简化诉讼程序，立案之日起45日内结案。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Summary procedure for administrative cases. For an administrative case of first instance in which the basic facts are evident and the dispute is trivial in character, involving a small amount of property, the people’s court may, on the premise of mutual agreement between the parties concerned, have a single judge try the case, simplify the litigation procedures, and conclude the case within 45 days after it is placed on the docket.

三）建立多元纠纷解决机制

3. Establishing Multiple Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

　　为应对社会快速发展时期社会矛盾纠纷易发多发的状况，中国立法机关2010年颁布了《中华人民共和国人民调解法》。有关部门建立健全诉讼与非诉讼相衔接的矛盾纠纷解决机制，深入推进矛盾纠纷大调解工作，构建起符合国情的多元纠纷解决机制。2012年修改的民事诉讼法增加了先行调解、调解协议司法确认等内容，巩固了司法改革成果。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

In response to the frequently occurring conflicts and disputes in a period of rapid social development, in 2010 the legislative organ of China promulgated the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Mediation, and relevant department issued Several Opinions on Establishing and Improving Conflict and Dispute Resolution Mechanisms by Linking Litigation and Non-litigation Cases and Guidelines on Encouraging the Use of Mediation to Solve Conflicts and Disputes. They encourage the development and improvement of non-litigation dispute resolution mechanisms, thus establishing multiple dispute resolution mechanisms suited to the national conditions. Provisions such as mediation should be used first and mediation agreements shall be accepted by judicial organs are added to the Civil Procedure Law amended in 2012, reaffirming the achievements in judicial reforms.

　　发挥人民调解作用。人民调解是一项具有中国特色的非诉讼矛盾纠纷解决方式。中国在全国村（居）委、乡镇（街道）、企事业单位以及矛盾高发行业和领域广泛设立人民调解委员会。截至2011年底，中国有人民调解组织81.1万个，调解员433.6万名。2011年调解纠纷893.5万件，调解成功率96.9%。

Giving play to people’s mediation. People’s mediation is a Chinese way for resolving non-litigation disputes. China has established people’s mediation committees in village (neighborhood) committees, townships or towns (urban districts), enterprises and public institutions, as well as industries and sectors with a high frequency of occurrence of disputes. By the end of 2011, China had 811,000 people’s mediation organizations and 4.336 million mediators. In 2011, a total of 8.935 million conflicts were resolved through mediation, with a 96.9% resolution rate.

　　发挥行政调解作用。行政机关依据法律规定，在当事人自愿的前提下，对职权管辖范围内的行政争议和与职权相关的民事纠纷积极进行调解，使之在平等协商的基础上达成一致协议，促进矛盾纠纷及时、合理解决。

Giving play to administrative mediation. Out of the volition of the parties involved, an administrative organ may mediate administrative disputes under its jurisdiction and civil disputes relating to its functions and powers, enabling the parties concerned to reach agreement through consultation on an equal footing. Such mediation is conducive to the timely and reasonable settlement of disputes.

　　发挥司法调解作用。人民法院对受理的民事案件，依职权或经当事人申请，在法官的主持下进行调解，化解纠纷。2011年，全国法院调解民事案件266.5万件，调解撤诉案件174.6万件。人民检察院建立健全检调对接工作机制，对符合条件的轻微刑事案件、民事申诉案件，由人民调解组织先行调解，检察机关再根据调解情况依法作出决定，共同化解矛盾纠纷。

Giving play to judicial mediation. A people’s court shall, according to its functions and powers or at the request of the involved parties, mediate civil cases lodged to it and resolve disputes under the presiding of a judge. In 2011, the people’s courts in China mediated 2.665 million civil cases and had 1.746 million cases withdrawn by the parties after mediation. The people’s procuratorates have established and improved a mechanism to link prosecution with mediation. With respect to a minor criminal case or a civil appeal that meets certain requirements, a people’s procuratorate will ask a people’s mediation organization to mediate first before it makes a decision in accordance with the law on the basis of the mediation result to jointly resolve the conflict or dispute.

　　加强诉讼与非诉讼相衔接的矛盾纠纷解决机制建设。注重发挥人民调解组织、社会团体、律师、专家、仲裁机构等的作用，积极推动建立人民调解、行政调解、司法调解相结合的“大调解”工作体系，加强三者之间在程序对接、效力确认、法律指导等方面的协调配合。对仲裁等非诉讼纠纷解决机制，人民法院尊重其自身规律，并在证据保全、财产保全、强制执行等方面依法予以支持。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Strengthening conflict or dispute resolution mechanisms by linking litigation and non-litigation cases. Highlighting the role of people’s mediation organizations, social groups, lawyers, experts and arbitration agencies, China endeavors to establish a “large mediation” work system that integrates people’s, administrative and judicial mediation, and improves coordination among the three in terms of procedure linkage, validity confirmation and legal guidance. As for non-litigation dispute resolution mechanisms like arbitration, the people’s courts respect their own rules and provide support in such aspects as evidence and property preservation, and compulsory execution.

　　完善当事人和解的公诉案件诉讼程序。对一些因民间纠纷引起的轻微故意犯罪和除渎职犯罪以外的可能判处七年有期徒刑以下刑罚的过失犯罪案件，犯罪嫌疑人、被告人真诚悔罪，通过向被害人赔偿损失、赔礼道歉等方式获得被害人谅解，被害人自愿和解的，双方当事人可以和解。对于达成和解协议的案件，人民检察院可以向人民法院提出从宽处罚的建议，对于犯罪情节轻微，不需要判处刑罚的，可以作出不起诉的决定。人民法院可以依法对被告人从宽处罚。   

Improving litigation procedures for cases of public prosecution involving conciliation between the parties. For some minor crimes arising from civil disputes and for negligent crimes (excluding dereliction of duty) that may be given sentences of less than seven years, when criminal suspects or defendants repent of their crimes and obtain the forgiveness of the victims through such means as compensation for losses or apologies, and the victims wish to be reconciled with the perpetrators on a voluntary basis, both parties may be reconciled. For cases in which the parties concerned reach conciliation agreements, the people’s procuratorate may recommend lenient penalties to the people’s courts; and for minor crimes that do not entail criminal punishment, the people’s procuratorate may issue non-litigation decisions. The people’s courts may give a lenient penalty to defendants in accordance with the law.

　　（四）降低当事人诉讼成本

4. Reducing Litigation Costs for Parties Concerned

　　国家加快改革和完善诉讼收费制度，2006年出台了《诉讼费用交纳办法》、《律师服务收费管理办法》等规定，在保障正常司法工作秩序、防止滥用诉权的同时，大幅降低了当事人诉讼成本，显著缓解了诉讼难、请律师难等问题。

China has expedited the reform and improvement of its litigation fee collection system. In 2006, China promulgated the Rules on Litigation Fee Payment, and the Methods for Management of Collection of Lawyer Service Fees. These measures markedly lowered the cost of litigants, thus mitigating the difficulty of lodging a lawsuit and hiring a lawyer, while guaranteeing normal judicial work and preventing abuse of litigation rights.

　　降低诉讼收费。明确限定诉讼费用交纳范围，人民法院只收取案件受理费、申请费。大幅调整财产、离婚、劳动争议等与人民群众密切相关案件的收费起点和比例、标准，实际收费大大减少。对行政赔偿案件等情形免收案件受理费。对行政案件不论是否涉及财产标的，一律按件收费。

Lowering litigation charges. China has clarified the payment scope concerning litigation fees, with people’s courts collecting only fees for case registration and application. China has sharply adjusted the threshold, percentage and standard of fees for cases involving property, divorce and labor disputes whose occurrence is fairly frequent, resulting in a great reduction in actual charges. Case registration fees are exempted for such cases as administrative compensation. For administrative cases, whether involving property or not, a fixed fee is collected.

　　减免诉讼费用。当事人交纳诉讼费确有困难的，可以向人民法院申请司法救助，并明确了免交、减交、缓交诉讼费用的情形、程序和比例，保证经济确有困难的当事人能够依法充分行使诉讼权利。

Reducing and exempting litigation fees. When a party has difficulty paying a litigation fee it may apply to a people’s court for judicial assistance. The state makes clear the circumstances, procedures and percentages for exemption, reduction and deferment of litigation fees, ensuring that parties with economic difficulties are able to fully exercise their litigation rights in accordance with the law.

　　规范律师收费。在扩大实行市场调节价的律师收费范围的同时，对代理国家赔偿案件及各类诉讼案件的申诉等律师服务收费，继续实行政府指导价，并严格规范律师收费环节和程序，在促进律师业健康发展的同时，有效保障了当事人合法权益和国家利益。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Regulating lawyers’ charges. While expanding the scope of lawyers’ charges to market-adjusted prices, China continues to implement government-guided prices for service fees collected by lawyers when they act as representatives in state compensation cases and other law-suits, and rigorously standardizes the links and procedures for lawyers’ charges. This effectively guarantees litigants’ lawful rights and interests, as well as the state’s interests while promoting the healthy development of the law profession.

　　方便当事人诉讼。司法机关普遍建立诉讼服务中心、业务受理接待中心，建立健全首问负责、服务承诺、办事公开、文明接待等制度；改进诉讼引导、查询咨询、诉前调解、举报受理等服务；利用信息技术，开通服务热线，探索推行网上预约立案、送达、庭审、查询等便民措施，为公众提供便利的诉讼环境。

Facilitating litigation. Judicial organs have generally established litigation service centers, and case registration and reception centers, and initiated and improved such systems as first inquiry responsibility, service commitment, open work and polite reception. They have improved such services as litigation guidance, search and inquiry, mediation prior to litigation, and meeting with people who report offences. They provide a suitable litigation environment for the public by opening hotlines and making use of information technology to provide online services such as case registration, serving a document, court sessions and inquiries.

（五）开展法律援助

5. Providing Legal Assistance

　　中国高度重视法律援助工作，2003年颁布实施《法律援助条例》以来，逐步扩大法律援助覆盖面，建立健全经费保障机制，为经济困难的公民或者特殊案件当事人提供免费法律服务，使越来越多的困难民众通过法律援助维护了自身合法权益。近年来，法律援助事项范围从刑事辩护向就医、就业、就学等民生事项拓展，经济困难标准参照各地生活保障标准，办案补贴标准进一步提高，并针对农民工、残疾人、老年人、未成年人、妇女五类特殊群体建立了专项经费保障制度。截至2011年底，全国共有3600多个法律援助机构，1.4万名专职法律援助人员、21.5万名律师和7.3万名基层法律服务工作者，28个省、自治区、直辖市制定了法律援助地方法规。2009年以来，全国法律援助经费年均增幅为26.8%，2011年达12.8亿元人民币，法律援助工作水平随着经济社会的发展不断提高。

China attaches great importance to legal assistance. Since the implementation of the Regulations on Legal Assistance promulgated in 2003, China has gradually extended its coverage of legal assistance, and established and improved its funding guarantee system, providing free legal services for citizens with economic difficulties and parties to special cases of lawsuits, making it possible for more and more impoverished people to protect their legitimate rights and interests through legal assistance. In recent years, legal assistance has extended from criminal defence to areas involving people’s livelihood, such as seeing a doctor, seeking employment and obtaining education; the standards of economic difficulty have been established in reference to local subsistence allowance standards; the subsidies for handling cases have been improved; and specific funding guarantee systems have been established for five special groups: migrant workers, the disabled, the elderly, minors and women. By the end of 2011, China had more than 3,600 legal-assistance agencies, 14,000 full-time legal-assistance personnel, 215,000 lawyers and 73,000 grassroots legal service personnel. A total of 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) have formulated local statutory regulations on legal assistance. Since 2009, funding for legal assistance has increased at an annual rate of 26.8%, reaching 1.28 billion yuan in 2011. The work of legal assistance has constantly improved along with socioeconomic advances.

　　（六）畅通司法机关与社会公众沟通渠道

6. Facilitating Channels of Communication between Judicial Organs and the Public

　　司法机关高度重视听取民意，积极保障公众对司法事务的知情权、参与权、表达权和监督权。司法机关普遍成立专门机构加强与人大代表、政协委员的沟通联系，并办理与司法工作相关的提案、建议。聘请民主党派成员、无党派人士、群众代表担任特约监督员、特约检察员、人民监督员、特邀咨询员等对其工作进行监督并听取意见和建议。设立网站、微博客等平台，建立网络民意表达和民意调查机制，方便与公众沟通交流。通过接待群众来信来访、举办开放日活动等方式走近公众。微博@高斋翻硕 公众号:高斋翻译学堂

Judicial organs in China attach great importance to listening to the public’s opinions, and make proactive efforts to guarantee the people’s rights to know, participate in, be heard and supervise in terms of judicial affairs. They have established special departments to strengthen communication with members of the people’s congresses and members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and handle proposals and recommendations related to judicial work. They invite members of the democratic parties, personages without party affiliation and representatives from among the general public to act as special supervisors and procurators, people’s supervisors, and specially-invited consultants to oversee their work and provide comments and advice. They have built websites and microblogs to establish mechanisms for the online expression of public opinion and opinion polls, so as to facilitate communication with the general public. They also approach the public through such activities as receiving visitors, handling petitions and hosting open days.

结束语

Conclusion

　　通过司法改革，中国特色社会主义司法制度不断完善。司法改革促进了司法机关严格、公正、文明、廉洁执法，推动了中国司法工作和司法队伍建设的科学发展，赢得了公众的认可与支持。

Through judicial reform, China has constantly improved the socialist judicial system with Chinese characteristics, enhancing rigorous, just, polite and incorruptible law enforcement by the country’s judicial organs, promoting the country’s scientific development of judicial work and personnel, and winning the public’s approval and support.

实践不断发展，创新永无止境。司法改革是中国政治体制改革的重要组成部分，是中国特色社会主义司法制度的自我完善和发展，是一项长期而艰巨的任务，还将随着经济社会的发展而逐步深化。建立公正高效权威的中国特色社会主义司法制度是司法改革的目标，中国将为此继续不懈努力。

As circumstances keep changing, there is no end to innovation. Judicial reform is regarded as an important part of China’s political system reform; it is the self-improvement and development of a socialist judicial system with Chinese characteristics. It remains a long and arduous task, and we will deepen the reform along with economic and social development. Establishing a just, effective and authoritative socialist judicial system with Chinese characteristics is the goal of our reform, and China will make continuous efforts to achieve this goal.