Youth crime declines amid intervention

China's procuratorial authorities recorded a decline in both juvenile crime cases and crimes against minors submitted for prosecution in 2025 for the first time in nearly five years, as prosecutors strengthened early intervention, targeted correction and broader social governance, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said.

The SPP's 2025 white paper on juvenile procuratorial work, published on Monday, International Children's Day, showed that procuratorial organs accepted 91,573 juvenile suspects for review and prosecution in 2025, down 9.8 percent year-on-year.

Theft, group fighting, rape, robbery, provocation and disturbance, and fraud accounted for 76.7 percent of juvenile crime cases.

A total of 55,814 juvenile suspects were prosecuted, down 1.9 percent year-on-year. The number of suspects in the 14 to 16 age group dropped 13.4 percent. The SPP also approved the prosecution of 24 minors aged 12 to 14 for serious violent crimes, sending what it described as a clear message that age does not shield young offenders from criminal responsibility.

At the same time, prosecutors continued to emphasize education and correction. In 2025, they decided not to approve the arrest of 28,200 juvenile suspects and not to prosecute another 38,100. The nonarrest and non-prosecution rates stood at 44.5 percent and 40.6 percent, respectively.

Follow-up education and assistance were provided after such decisions to help minors return to the right path. More than 71,000 eligible minors also had their criminal records sealed.

Procuratorial organs have balanced punishment with protection, promoted graded intervention for juvenile offenses, strengthened supervision over specialized education and correction, and continued to improve juvenile crime prevention and governance, according to the SPP.

The SPP recently released typical cases involving emerging risks to minors, including school violence, cybercrime and new addictive substances, to illustrate that approach.

The SPP noted that gang-like behavior and repeat offending remain common problems in juvenile crime and major challenges for education and correction.

In one case in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, two teenagers gathered other minors to fight for the title of "campus boss". Prosecutors handled those involved differently based on their roles, circumstances and risk of reoffending. Those who organized or actively participated in the fight were prosecuted or placed under correction measures, while those who played minor roles received targeted education and assistance.

The SPP said prosecutors should look beyond the offense itself and identify the roles minors play in violent conflicts and unhealthy peer relationships. It called for stricter measures for those at higher risk of reoffending and more tailored assistance for those who followed others without committing serious violence.

New addictive substances have also emerged as a prominent challenge in protecting minors.

In one case in Shandong province, a 17-year-old boy sold nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, to other minors under the direction of a KTV and bar operator. The operator was later sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes including rape, illegal business operations and illegal detention, while the minor received a seven-year prison sentence.

Prosecutors in Shandong also proposed local legislation banning the provision and sale of nitrous oxide to minors. The proposal was adopted, resulting in China's first provincial-level legislation targeting the abuse of laughing gas among minors.

The white paper also showed a decline in crimes against minors. Prosecutors approved the arrest of 56,338 suspects in such cases, down 1.4 percent year-on-year, and prosecuted 72,807 people, down 2.2 percent.

A total of 42,873 people were prosecuted for sexual offenses against minors, including rape and child molestation, down 5.5 percent. The number prosecuted for crimes against children younger than 14 fell 6 percent to 38,384. Both categories declined for the first time in five years.

The report also highlighted mandatory reporting and campus safety.

Under China's mandatory reporting system, people who work closely with children, including teachers, doctors and hotel operators, must immediately report suspected abuse, violence or other forms of harm involving minors to police or other relevant authorities.

Those who fail to do so may face administrative or criminal penalties.

In one case in Shanghai, a teacher who molested several female students was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison and barred from work involving close contact with minors. Prosecutors also found that school officials failed to promptly report earlier complaints from parents. The officials were later criticized and disciplined.

The procuratorate subsequently worked with authorities in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces to establish a cross-regional mandatory reporting mechanism in the Yangtze River Delta integrated demonstration zone.

Last year, 3,852 cases involving crimes against minors originated from mandatory reporting leads, accounting for 7.1 percent of the total. Procuratorial organs also urged relevant departments and organizations to hold more than 400 people accountable for failing to fulfill mandatory reporting obligations in cases where serious consequences occurred.

The SPP said prosecutors should move beyond handling individual cases and address broader governance issues by identifying the root causes of juvenile crime from the perspectives of individuals, families and social environments.