Table of Contents
Part One: General Provisions
Chapter I: Objectives and Basic Principles
Chapter II: Jurisdiction
Chapter III: Disqualification
Chapter IV: Defense and Representation
Chapter V: Evidence
Chapter VI: Compulsory Measures
Chapter VII: Incidental Civil Actions
Chapter VIII: Periods and Service of Process
Chapter IX: Other Provisions
Part Two: Opening a Case, Criminal Investigation, and Initiation of Public Prosecution
Chapter I: Opening a Case
Chapter II: Criminal Investigation
Section 1: General Rules
Section 2: Interrogation of Criminal Suspects
Section 3: Interviewing Witnesses
Section 4: Crime Scene Investigation and Examination
Section 5: Search
Section 6: Seizure and Impoundment of Physical Evidence and Documentary Evidence
Section 7: Forensic Identification and Evaluation
Section 8: Technical Investigation Measures
Section 9: Wanted Notices
Section 10: Close of Criminal Investigation
Section 11: Criminal Investigation of Cases Directly Accepted by People’s Procuratorates
Chapter III: Initiation of Public Prosecution
Part Three: Trial
Chapter I: Trial Organizations
Chapter II: Procedures at First Instance
Section 1: Cases of Public Prosecution
Section 2: Cases of Private Prosecution
Section 3: Summary Procedures
Chapter III: Procedures at Second Instance
Chapter IV: Procedures for Review of Death Sentences
Chapter V: Trial Supervision Procedures
Part Four: Execution
Part Five: Special Procedures
Chapter I: Procedures for Juvenile Criminal Cases
Chapter II: Procedures for Public Prosecution Cases Where Parties Have Reached Settlement
Chapter III: Confiscation Procedures for Illegal Income in Cases Where a Criminal Suspect or Defendant Escapes or Dies
Chapter IV: Procedures for Involuntary Medical Treatment of Mental Patients Legally Exempted from Criminal Liability
Supplementary Provisions
Part One: General Provisions
Chapter I: Objectives and Basic Principles
Article 1 To ensure correct enforcement of the Criminal Law, punish crimes, protect the people, protect national security and public security, and maintain the order of socialist society, this Law is formulated in accordance with the Constitution.
Article 2 The objectives of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China are to ensure the accurate and timely finding of criminal facts and correct application of law, punish criminals, ensure that innocent people are not incriminated, raise citizens’ awareness of abiding by law and combating crimes, safeguard the socialist legal system, respect and protect human rights, protect the personal rights, property rights, democratic rights, and other rights of citizens, and ensure smooth socialist construction.
Article 3 Public security authorities are responsible for criminal investigation, detention, execution of arrest warrants, and interrogation in criminal cases. People’s Procuratorates are responsible for procuratorial supervision, approval of arrests, investigation of cases directly accepted by procuratorial authorities, and initiation of public prosecution. People’s Courts are responsible for trial and sentencing. Except as otherwise provided for by law, no other authority, organization, or individual shall exercise such powers.
In criminal procedures, people’s courts, people’s procuratorates, and public security authorities must strictly abide by this Law and relevant provisions of other laws.
Supplementary Provisions
Article 290 The security departments of the armed forces shall have the authority to investigate criminal cases that occur within the armed forces.
Crimes committed by convicts within a prison shall be investigated by the prison.
The handling of criminal cases by the security departments of the armed forces and by prisons shall be governed by the relevant provisions of this Law.