My friend has been under criminal detention. What if we can't afford a lawyer?

According to the reasons for criminal detention, generally eligible people can apply for legal aid (go to the county legal aid center). In addition to himself, the applicant generally refers to such people as husband and wife, parents and children, and also needs to provide proof of kinship (household registration book or proof of public security organs). Those who meet the conditions of legal aid will be assigned lawyers to defend legal aid. Under special circumstances (such as being blind, deaf or dumb, who may be sentenced to life imprisonment or death), if a defender is not entrusted, legal aid shall be provided for his defense.

Reference Law: Article 34 of the Criminal Procedure Law If a criminal suspect or defendant fails to entrust a defender due to financial difficulties or other reasons, he or his close relatives may apply to a legal aid institution. To meet the conditions of legal aid, legal aid institutions shall appoint lawyers to defend them.

If the criminal suspect or defendant is a mental patient who is blind, deaf, dumb or has not completely lost the ability to identify or control his own behavior, and has not entrusted a defender, the people's court, the people's procuratorate and the public security organ shall notify the legal aid institution to appoint a lawyer to defend him.

If a criminal suspect or defendant may be sentenced to life imprisonment or death without entrusting a defender, the people's court, the people's procuratorate and the public security organ shall notify the legal aid institution to appoint a lawyer to defend him.