China Inbound Legal Guides · Criminal Defense
China legal decision desk
Criminal Defense
Criminal defence is a status-and-clock problem: inquiry vs investigation, detention vs bail, who may see the person today.
gates mapped before the next move
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
FIRST CONTACT & STATUS · DETENTION, BAIL & MEASURES · INVESTIGATION RIGHTS · FOREIGN-NATIONAL OVERLAY · FAMILY & EMPLOYER OVERLAYS
Detention, arrest review and counsel access are time-sensitive. This is a procedure clock, not a personal-injury damages map and not a family-custody safety strip. For immediate physical danger use local emergency numbers.
Open first-contact routeDecision desk / 01
Where is the
pressure point?
Matter statusCLASSIFY FIRSTConfirm the current route
First contact & status
Name the procedural status and get counsel; do not treat this as a civil claim file.
Open routeDetention, bail & measures
Identify the current measure and the next review point before arguing the merits.
Open routeInvestigation rights
Preserve rights and the record; do not fill a civil evidence pack as if this were a traffic claim.
Open routeForeign-national overlay
Flag nationality and consular issues as a separate overlay, not a substitute for the status file.
Open routeFamily & employer overlays
Separate family and employment questions from the criminal procedure file.
Open routeSituation-based routes
Start where
the matter is.
14 bounded routes turn a broad concern into the next useful question.
First contact & status
When police, prosecutors or a summons appear — identify status before discussing the alleged facts.
Open route 02MeasuresDetention, bail & measures
Residential surveillance, detention, arrest and the clocks around release applications.
Open route 03InvestigationInvestigation rights
Questioning, records, counsel access and what not to sign without understanding.
Open route 04ForeignForeign-national overlay
Consular notice, language, exit and the extra procedure that sits on a foreign passport.
Open route 05OverlaysFamily & employer overlays
When a detention hits a family file or a workplace — connected hubs, not the criminal merits.
Open route 06TrialTrial & appeal
Once a case is prosecuted: hearing, judgment and the appeal path.
Open route 07Driving & traffic crimesDriving & traffic crimes
Dangerous driving, DUI and traffic-related criminal exposure, distinct from administrative traffic penalties.
Open route 08Drug & gambling offencesDrug & gambling offences
Narcotics and gambling-related offences, including cross-border gaming conduct and detention exposure.
Open route 09Juvenile defence & record sealingJuvenile defence & record sealing
Minors’ procedural protections, juvenile offences and criminal-record sealing.
Open route 10Economic & white-collar offencesEconomic & white-collar offences
Duty encroachment, commercial bribery, economic crime and business-related criminal exposure.
Open route 11Assault, sexual & violent offencesAssault, sexual & violent offences
Intentional injury, assault, sexual offences and other violent allegations, including detention exposure and coordination with victim civil-compensation claims.
Open route 12Sentencing, bail, parole & correctionsSentencing, bail, parole & corrections
Compulsory measures, community correction, parole, prison management and sentence reduction.
Open route 13Personal-information crimesPersonal-information crimes
Criminal exposure involving unlawful collection, sale or provision of personal information, coordinated with PIPL/data compliance.
Open route 14Theft & property offencesTheft & property offences
Criminal defence for theft and property offences, including valuation disputes, return/restitution issues, mitigation and procedural status.
Open routeDecision shortcuts
Already know
the issue?
Jump to the narrow question changing your next move.
Quick answers
Orient first.
Then go deeper.
Short explainers for recurring questions beneath this practice route.
Editorial & legal review
Research with
professional boundaries.
Route logic and substantive content require review when current rules change.
No lawyer is presented as the legal reviewer until an appropriately qualified specialist is assigned.
This hub routes research; it does not provide legal advice or promise regulatory clearance.
Editorial policyCounsel hand-off
Need criminal-defense counsel?
This hub organises procedure. It does not represent anyone, obtain bail or speak to investigators on your facts. For detention, use the consultation form’s emergency path.