China consults public opinion on revision to Criminal Procedure Law

BEIJING - China's top legislature has published a draft revision to the Criminal Procedure Law to consult public opinion.

The draft was submitted to the National People's Congress Standing Committee for review in late April.

Key revisions include introducing default judgments, codifying the practice for leniency in guilty pleas, and expedited trials.

The revision will adjust certain provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law to avoid conflict with the Supervision Law.

The Criminal Procedure Law was created in 1979 and has undergone two major revisions, in 1996 and 2012.

Members of the public can either visit the congress website, npc.gov.cn, or send their opinions to the top legislature by mail. The deadline for submitting opinions is June 7.