China recorded a juvenile cases decline in 2025 as both youth prosecutions and crimes against minors fell for the first time in nearly five years. The Supreme People’s Procuratorate released the data in a white paper on Monday. Prosecutors accepted and reviewed 9.8 percent fewer juvenile cases compared to the previous year. The report credited stronger prevention efforts and tougher enforcement for the turnaround.
Six offense types dominated youth crime throughout the year. Theft, group fighting, rape, robbery, provoking trouble, and fraud accounted for more than 70 percent of total juvenile cases. Meanwhile, suspected offenders aged 14 to 16 dropped by 13.4 percent in 2025. This followed a 7.4 percent decrease in 2024. However, prosecutors still approved charges against 24 minors aged 12 to 14 for serious violent crimes. The SPP used these prosecutions to signal that young age does not shield anyone from punishment.
Prosecutorial authorities also emphasized rehabilitation in their handling of juvenile cases. They declined to arrest 28,200 youth suspects and chose not to prosecute 38,100 individuals. The non-arrest rate reached 44.5 percent, while the non-prosecution rate stood at 40.6 percent. Authorities provided follow-up assistance and rehabilitation for those not formally charged. Furthermore, they sealed criminal records for more than 71,000 eligible minors to maximize education and reform opportunities. Officials also formulated regulations to strengthen specialized schools and corrective education.
Simultaneously, the white paper reported a decrease in crimes committed against minors. Prosecutors approved the arrest of 56,338 people for such offenses, a 1.4 percent decline. They prosecuted 72,807 individuals, down 2.2 percent from the prior year. Notably, sexual offences against minors fell 5.5 percent, with 42,873 people prosecuted. Prosecutions for crimes against children under 14 dropped 6 percent to 38,384. Both figures marked their first decline in nearly five years.
Prosecutors enforced a case-by-case review system and held over 400 people accountable for failing mandatory reporting duties. The SPP guided authorities in Zhejiang and Shandong through compliance in cases involving a 9-year-old girl in Wenzhou and a 9-year-old boy in Qingdao. Authorities urged legal accountability in both instances. The white paper confirmed that procuratorial bodies used criminal, civil, administrative, and public interest litigation functions to protect minors’ rights across guardianship, personality, and inheritance matters.
The Supreme People’s Court also marked International Children’s Day by launching an online legal education program with Tencent. The platform features judges explaining laws through real cases and short videos addressing cyberbullying and school bullying. It also provides youth self-protection guidance for dangerous situations and online traps. The SPC said the program brings together multiple institutions to safeguard healthy growth through rule-of-law education. The juvenile cases decline suggests policy momentum, though authorities pledged continued vigilance.
