China’s New Criminal Justice Policy of Having ‘Fewer Arrests, More Careful Prosecution and Detention’: Possible Impacts

Abstract

In China, there has been a criminal justice concept of having fewer arrests and more careful prosecution and detention. The number of serious criminal cases decreases, criminal cases are mainly minor and nonviolent offences nowadays. This structural change in criminal cases requires a modest and restrained approach. Therefore, the concept of having fewer arrests, especially more careful prosecution and detention became a criminal procedure law policy in recent years to protect human rights, maintain social relationships and save judicial resources. This research is expected to help having a deeper understanding and better application of the new policy, by observing its impact on people’s behaviors. The research will focus on the content and implementation of the policy and possible impacts on people’s behaviors under economic principles. The legal issue would be the possible changes in people’s behaviors under the policy. This research has a limitation in how the policy should be further approached. And the question of whether the benefit of implementing the policy would exceed the cost remains to be answered. But the recognized benefits of this new policy would significantly impact China's current legal and economic environment.

Keywords: Criminal justice, Fewer arrests, Criminal procedure

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/150-02

Publication date: January 28^th 2026