This is a two-year project funded by Global Opportunities Fund and launched in collaboration with the Legislative Affairs Commission (LAC) of National People’s Congress of China. The project is aimed at introducing the UK practice and experience on non-custodial penalty for minor offenders to Chinese legal practitioners in order to promote the alternative measures to deal with minor offenders and accelerate the reform of re-education through labour in China.

Project components include:

1. In 2004, the research team led by LAC conducted empirical research in Shanghai, Zhejiang Province, Jiangsu Province, Sichuan Province, Shanxi Province, Hebei Province and etc.
2. Sino-British Seminar on Non-Custodial Penalties for Minor Offenders was held in Shanghai in December 2004. Ms, Pam McPhee from England and Ms. Jane Martin from Scotland attended the seminar. The two UK experts shared with their Chinese counterparts how England and Scotland deal with minor offenders.
3. A research team consisting of staffs from LAC and the Ministry of Public Security paid a research visit to the UK from October to December 2005. The team was headed by Mr. Huang Taiyun, the Deputy Director of the Department of Criminal Legislation of LAC. During the two months, they not only had academic research in two universities, but also closely observed the UK practice of dealing with minor offenders through work attachments, and thus accumulated a large amount of important first-hand information.
4. A detailed research report was completed after the team came to China. This will be of great value to the ongoing reform of re-education through labour in China.

The project ended in March 2006.