Can criminal cases under the age of 18 be tried in public?

The trial is over. Secret trial refers to the judicial trial system in which the people's court does not hear cases in public according to the law or other legitimate reasons. In the trial of "Several Provisions of the Supreme People's Court on the Trial of Juvenile Criminal Cases", all cases in which the defendant is under the age of 18 shall not be tried in public. Criminal cases of minors under the age of 18 at the time of trial are generally not heard in public. If it is really necessary to hold a public hearing, it must be approved by the president of our hospital, and the number and scope of the audience should be limited. In trying juvenile criminal cases, we must take facts as the basis, take the law as the criterion, adhere to the principle of giving priority to education, supplemented by punishment, implement the policy of education, probation and salvation, and actively participate in the comprehensive management of social security.

Provisions of the Supreme People's Court on the Trial of Juvenile Criminal Cases

Article 13

Before a juvenile criminal case is decided, the judge shall not disclose the minor's name, domicile, photos and possible inferred information to the outside world.

Except for consulting, extracting and copying according to law, the files of juvenile criminal cases shall not be inquired, extracted, disclosed and disseminated without the approval of the president of our hospital. Article 15

The people's court shall ensure that the juvenile defendant can obtain defense according to law.

If a minor defendant under the age of 18 fails to entrust a defender during the trial, the people's court shall appoint a lawyer who undertakes the obligation of legal aid to defend him.

During the trial, the juvenile defendant and his legal representative may refuse the defender to defend him. Article 21

Before the trial, both the prosecution and the defense can investigate the personality characteristics, family situation, social interaction, growth experience and performance before and after the alleged crime, and make written materials and submit them to the collegial panel. When necessary, the people's court may also entrust relevant social organizations to investigate the above situation or conduct its own investigation.

Legal basis:

Article 286 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) * * * If he was under the age of 18 at the time of committing the crime and was sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years, the relevant criminal records shall be sealed. If the criminal record is sealed, it shall not be provided to any unit or individual, except for the need of judicial organs to handle cases or the relevant units to make inquiries in accordance with state regulations. Units that inquire according to law shall keep the sealed criminal records confidential.