Programs for Criminal Reform in The People's Republic of China

• NCJ Number: 148316
• Journal: Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 20 Issue: 3-4 Dated: (1994) Pages: 1-20
• Author(s): J C Jolley
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Noting that efforts at offender rehabilitation in the People's Republic of China (PRC) rely on traditional views of human nature, this paper examines Confucian and Legalist views, with emphasis on the Confucian ideals of the basic goodness of people, the ability of moral teachings to reform, and the responsibility of social groups for their members.

Abstract

The discussion examines Communist ideology and the legal process in the PRC. Officials prefer to use the term reform to describe efforts to change offenders, except for minor violations. The four general approaches to accomplishing offender reform are local assistance and education, work-study schools, reeducation through labor, and reform through labor. Reform for serious offenders is required and believed possible by the Chinese. Officials in the PRC claim a low recidivism rate for criminal offenders. Description of the Reform through Labor system and 25 references (Author abstract modified)