China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) on Wednesday published a set of guidelines on improving trials for cases involving juvenile delinquency.
The guidelines have adjusted the scope of cases deemed acceptable to juvenile courts in a bid to better protect the legitimate rights and interests of minors, SPC official Jiang Qibo told a press conference.
Criminal, civil and administrative cases involving minors that concern the protection of minors' rights and interests and the prevention of juvenile delinquency will be accepted by juvenile courts, according to the guidelines.
The guidelines call for efforts to set up juvenile courts at a number of people's courts in urban districts, as cases involving minors are mostly handled by primary-level courts, said Jiang.
Another SPC official Zhou Jiahai said people's courts should severely punish those convicted of crimes against minors in accordance with the law, reflecting the policy that gives special emphasis and priority to protecting minors.
The people's courts should also strengthen the protection of juvenile victims and their families by cooperating with government departments and social organizations in providing psychological intervention, economic and legal aid, among other assistance measures, Zhou said. Enditem
