China boasts over 900 integrated juvenile tribunals

China boasts over 900 juvenile tribunals that have seamlessly integrated civil, criminal and administrative trials in case management, offering robust safeguards for minors while actively mitigating factors that could jeopardize their physical and mental well-being.

The Supreme People's Court, the highest judicial body in the nation, announced the news on Thursday, noting that these unified tribunals constitute approximately one-third of all juvenile tribunals nationwide.

"In the resolution of civil and administrative disputes, we have urged judges to bolster efforts in preventing juvenile delinquency by swiftly addressing and eradicating negative influences that could precipitate criminal behavior," stated the top court.

"In criminal proceedings, judges are also tasked with vigilantly safeguarding the civil and administrative rights of children, promptly informing minors of their rights and how to protect them," it further emphasized.

In a specific case, a mother named Sun was granted custody of her minor children following a divorce. When her ex-husband, Mr Li, failed to meet his child support obligations, she prevented him from visiting the children. Subsequently, Li initiated a civil lawsuit to secure visitation rights.

During the trial, disputes over custody, visitation and property matters stemming from the divorce ensued between Li and Sun. Following these events, Li was accused of assaulting Sun on her way home and was subsequently charged with intentional injury.

Recognizing the correlation between the visitation dispute and the assault, the juvenile tribunal at the Yanqing District People's Court in Beijing promptly convened a panel comprising criminal and civil judges to elucidate legal matters and provide family education to both parties, alongside offering psychological counseling to the minor children.

Upon Li's admission of guilt for the intentional injury and his voluntary compensation to Sun, the tribunal handed down a probationary sentence, sparing him from imprisonment.

Concurrently, through the tribunal's mediation, Sun agreed to allow Li to settle the property dispute and overdue child support in installments from their divorce proceedings. Li, in turn, committed to visiting the children at the times and locations specified by Sun.

The integrated handling of child-related cases enables judges to swiftly discern underlying connections, conflicts, and pertinent details involving minors, noted the Yanqing court, underscoring its efficacy in reducing repeated harm to the same child from multiple legal actions.

While advocating for enhanced efforts to fortify comprehensive protections for minors, the top court has stressed the significance of collaborative efforts in managing child-related cases, recommending increased information sharing among prosecuting authorities, civil agencies and health departments to promptly address the challenges faced by minors.