China Justice Observer

中司观察

EnglishArabicChinese (Simplified)DutchFrenchGermanHindiItalianJapaneseKoreanPortugueseRussianSpanishSwedishHebrewIndonesianVietnameseThaiTurkishMalay

How Long Is a Life Sentence in China? - China Law in One Minute

Mon, 23 Nov 2020
Categories: China Law in One Minute
Contributors: CJO Staff Contributors Team
Editor: Yuan Yanchao 袁燕超
Save as PDF

avatar

 

In China, the longest sentence is a life sentence or life imprisonment.

Imprisonment in China is divided into fixed-term imprisonment and life imprisonment. The term of fixed-term imprisonment shall be not less than six months but not more than 15 years, and the decided fixed-term imprisonment shall not exceed 25 years if the sum of terms of fixed-term imprisonment is 35 years or more.

That is, if the criminal could be sentenced to imprisonment for more than 35 years, he/she may be directly sentenced to life imprisonment.

For more about China's Criminal Law, please click here.

 

References:

Criminal Law (2017): Articles 32, 45 and 69

 

Contributors: CJO Staff Contributors Team

Save as PDF

China Law in One Minute
Criminal Law

Related laws on China Laws Portal

Criminal Law of China (2017)

You might also like

China Revises National Defense Education Law

In September 2024, the newly revised “National Defense Education Law of the People’s Republic of China” was passed by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee and came into effect on 21 September.

China Intensifies Crackdown on Cross-Border Telecom Fraud

In July 2024, China's Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), Supreme People’s Court (SPC), and the Ministry of Public Security released ten typical cases to highlight their intensified efforts to combat cross-border telecom and online fraud, emphasizing organized crime and emerging technologies.

China Updates Regulation for State Secrets Law

In June 2024, China revised the implementing regulation for its State Secrets Law, enhancing classification procedures, personnel confidentiality management, and secrecy inspection standards.

China Issues Regulation on Rare Earth Administration

In April 2024, China introduced its first comprehensive regulation on rare earth management, addressing production, circulation, and reserves to ensure a regulated market and sustainable industry development.

China Revises Frontier Health and Quarantine Law

In June 2024, China revised its Frontier Health and Quarantine Law (国境卫生检疫法) to enhance measures against infectious disease transmission, including new quarantine protocols and medical priority for affected individuals.

China Issues New Regulations to Combat Cyber Violence

In June 2024, China's Cyberspace Administration, along with several ministries, issued new regulations to strengthen the governance of cyber violence, focusing on content management, user protection, and legal accountability.

MPS: China Crushes Myanmar Crime Syndicates

In May 2024, China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced that major crime syndicates in northern Myanmar have been dismantled since 2023, repatriating over 49,000 telecom fraud suspects and significantly curbing fraud-related crimes.

China Cracks Down on Securities and Futures Violations

In May 2024, China’s Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security, and China Securities Regulatory Commission jointly issued new regulations to intensify enforcement against securities and futures violations, integrating administrative and criminal justice measures to protect market integrity.