The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has recently issued the Regulations on the Work of People's Procuratorates in Handling Public Complaints, in a move to standardize the work of procuratorial authorities in handling public complaints via letters and visits.
In 2007, the SPP had formulated related regulations. The newly released regulations now incorporate specific provisions on a law-based approach to the handling of public complaints, thereby summarizing and solidifying the achievements in reforming the mechanism for handling public complaints in relation to law and litigation.
The regulations, consisting of seven chapters and 44 articles, cover a range of aspects, including the fundamental principles that procuratorates should adhere to in handling public complaints, the work mechanisms, submission and jurisdiction of letter-or-visit matters, acceptance and response to letter-or-visit matters, requirements for the handling of and replying to letter-or-visit matters, maintenance of order in the public complaints, as well as supervision over and accountability for related work.
In terms of the work mechanism, the regulations explicitly require the Party leadership groups of procuratorates at all levels to study the work of public complaints at least once a year and establish a joint meeting system among the relevant departments responsible for public complaints.
The regulations specify the types of complaint letters under the jurisdiction of procuratorates. These include, among 14 categories, appeals against criminal decision-makings that have concluded prosecution by procuratorates, appeals against criminal judgments or rulings by courts that have legally taken effect, and accusations and appeals regarding decisions by public security authorities whether to file cases.
The regulations provide that the public may submit complaints, appeals, reports, suggestions, and opinions through various forms such as online platforms, letters, phone calls, faxes or visits. The 12309 Procuratorate Service Center is responsible for receiving and processing public complaints. Procuratorial authorities shall reply to the letter-or-visit matters within seven working days upon acceptance. The regulations also stipulate that leading officers of procuratorates should regularly receive public visits and implement a system for handling specific cases.
Regarding the handling of and response to the letter-or-visit matters, the regulations mandate that the departments responsible for addressing such issues generally resolve them within three months of acceptance and provide a response to the individuals raising complaints.
The regulations emphasize that those who file complaints through letters and visits must abide by laws and regulations, consciously maintain social order and complaint system order, and refrain from fabricating facts or falsely accusing others. If they choose to visit in person, they should go to the 12309 Procuratorate Service Center of procuratorates that enjoy jurisdictions or other designated reception locations.
