Legal basis: Article 34 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China. If a criminal suspect or defendant does not retain a defender due to financial difficulties or other reasons, he or his close relatives may apply to a legal aid agency. For those who meet the conditions for legal aid, the legal aid institution shall designate a lawyer to defend them.
If the criminal suspect or defendant is blind, deaf, mute or a mental patient who has not completely lost the ability to recognize or control his own behavior and has not entrusted a defender, the people's court, people's procuratorate and public security organs shall notify legal aid The agency is represented by its appointed attorney.
If a criminal suspect or defendant may be sentenced to life imprisonment or death without appointing a defender, the People's Court, People's Procuratorate, and Public Security Bureau shall notify the legal aid agency to appoint a lawyer to defend him.