Over 85% of Defendants in “Reconciled Criminal Cases” Get Non-Prison Sentences

山东超过85%的刑事和解案件被告人被判处非监禁刑

Xinhua News, 2009-04-20

As an example of how the People's Courts are helping “construct a harmonious society” and “effectively defusing social contradictions,” the Shandong Province High Court released statistics showing that over 85% of defendants in “reconciled criminal cases” receive sentences of probation, court supervision or monetary fines, not imprisonment. Types of “reconciliation” include court-mediated, self-mediated and trustee-mediated with victims typically receiving financial compensation from defendants; over 40% of such cases involved either traffic accidents or intentional injury. To qualify for lighter, non-prison sentences, crimes must be “minor” and defendants must display a “relatively good attitude in admitting guilt,” “actively display contrition” and “reach an understanding with the victim(s).”