'Low rate' of repeat offenders
The mainland was one of few countries with a low repeat crime rate, the Justice Minister said yesterday.
Xiao Yang said less than eight per cent of the people released from prison would reoffend.
Xinhua quoted the minister speaking at a review of the past five years' judicial work at a national conference in Jinan, Shandong province.
He praised the 'outstanding job' done by 20 model prisons and 15 model re-education labour centres. He also pointed to the expansion of legal aid services as a sign of improvement.
Government-sponsored legal aid services have been set up in 14 provinces or municipalities, almost twice as many as five years ago.
Statistics from six provinces and municipalities indicate that in the first six months of the year, 115,000 legal cases were handled and 100,000 free consultations given.
There were also more than 114,000 lawyers, compared with 40,000 five years ago.