Prosecution, legal supervision and public-interest functions
The procuratorial system reviews arrests and prosecutions, brings criminal charges, supervises defined legal processes and conducts authorized public-interest litigation.
01Position in the system
The highest procuratorial organ and leader of the national system
The SPP leads procuratorates in criminal prosecution, legal supervision and authorized public-interest litigation. Its materials help explain national procuratorial policy, but a live case ordinarily proceeds through the procuratorate with territorial and subject-matter responsibility.
What it doesLeads procuratorates at all levels and specialized procuratorates, performs procuratorial functions provided by law, and publishes rules, cases and policy materials.
When it mattersRelevant to criminal procedure, prosecution practice, procuratorial supervision, public-interest litigation and national prosecutorial policy.
02Jurisdiction
What falls within this procuratorate’s remit
Identify the procedural stage, case type, handling procuratorate and requested supervisory or public-interest function before relying on SPP-level materials.
03Official resources
Official and procedural resources
Start with primary institutional sources. Verify service links and procedural status before relying on a filing path.
05Related legal concepts
Functions and stages of procuratorial work
These concepts distinguish the institution from prosecution decisions, broader legal supervision and specialized public-interest actions.
01
Research tag
procuratorate
A state legal-supervision organ exercising prosecution and other statutory functions at the corresponding jurisdictional level.
02
Research tag
prosecution
The state process of reviewing a criminal case and, where legal conditions are met, bringing and presenting charges before a court.
03
Research tag
criminal procedure
The statutory sequence governing investigation, arrest review, prosecution, trial and enforcement, with procuratorial functions at defined stages.
04
Research tag
public-interest litigation
Authorized civil or administrative litigation brought by a procuratorate to protect specified public interests when legal conditions are satisfied.
05
Research tag
procuratorial supervision
Statutory oversight of defined investigative, adjudicative and enforcement activities through review, protest, recommendation or other procedures.
06Primary sources
How this entry was source-reviewed
The review date describes when the listed primary sources were checked. It is not a guarantee that jurisdiction remains unchanged after that date.
Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of ChinaSPP rules, guiding cases, procuratorial news and national public-service channels
Open source
Mandate / institutional sourceEnglish-language overview of the SPP and the functions of China's procuratorial system
Open source
Reference boundary
SPP guidance does not identify the procuratorate for a live case.
Confirm the case type, procedural stage, territorial and level jurisdiction, handling organ, applicable time limits and the precise procuratorial remedy or function sought.