36,876 Chinese receive judicial aid in four years

BEIJING - A total of 36,876 people received judicial aid from 2014 to November 2017, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said Wednesday.

According to Yin Yijun, director of the criminal appeals department under the SPP, procuratorates across the country accepted 41,009 applications for judicial aid during the period, spending over 350 million yuan ($55.38 million) in funding.

Local procuratorates have formed judicial aid groups, led by chief prosecutors or heads of their subordinate procuratorates, to carry out judicial aid in different phases of their cases and inform the eligible applicants of their rights, said Yin.

The procuratorates also attached importance to their collaboration with courts, the police, and departments on civil affairs and education, in order to give full play to their roles and build a network of judicial, government, and social aid.

"We have developed a multi-level aid model that features financial aid, psychological counseling, and special assistance," Yin continued, adding that procuratorates choose the most effective approach based on the specific conditions of the applicants.