Criminal Procedure Law of the PRC (2018 Amendment) · Yalla China
قانون الإجراءات الجنائية (تعديل 2018) / Criminal Procedure Law of the PRC (2018 Amendment)
Enacted: 2018-10-26 ✅ Effective: 2019-01-01
📝 Overview
Regulates criminal investigation and trial procedures in China, defining the rights of accused persons and law enforcement authorities' powers.
This is general information only, not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a licensed lawyer.
📜 The law text / key provisions
The Criminal Procedure Law (2018 Amendment) provides: (1) Arrest: arrest only with public prosecutor's warrant; family notified within 24 hours; (2) Right to counsel: accused has right to lawyer from early investigation stages; (3) Pre-trial detention period: maximum 37 days in most cases before formal charges; (4) Testimony: confessions obtained through coercion are inadmissible in principle; (5) Accused foreigners: right to consulate communication; charges presented in language they understand.
💬 Practical reading
💬 This is a general reading/opinion for orientation — not the official legal text nor legal advice.
If arrested in China, immediately request notification of your consulate and access to a lawyer. Do not sign any documents you do not understand and do not make statements without legal counsel.
📎 Official source
National People's Congress of China
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026