Why don't criminal lawyers let the families of criminal suspects read newspapers?

Lawyers in criminal cases do not allow the families of criminal suspects to read documents, because the files are state secrets and cannot be consulted, extracted or copied without permission. Defense lawyers can consult because of legal authorization, but as family members, they have no right to consult.

Paragraph 6 of Article 9 of the Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) on Guarding State Secrets stipulates:

The following matters involving national security and interests, which may damage the security and interests of the country in politics, economy, national defense, diplomacy and other fields after disclosure, shall be determined as state secrets:

(six) activities to safeguard national security and trace the secrets of criminal offences.

Article 40 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) stipulates:

From the date when the people's procuratorate examines and prosecutes the case, the defense lawyer may consult, extract and copy the case file. Other defenders may also consult, extract and copy the above materials with the permission of the people's court or the people's procuratorate.

Extended data:

State organs and units at all levels shall determine the level of state secrets according to the specific scope of state secrets and their classification. Matters that are not clear about whether they belong to state secrets and what kind of classification they belong to shall be determined by the state secrecy department and the relevant secrecy departments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government.

State secrets are classified into top secret, secret and secret. "Top secret" is the most important state secret, and its disclosure will cause particularly serious damage to the security and interests of the country. "Confidential" is an important state secret, the disclosure of which will harm the national security and interests. "Secret" is a general state secret, the disclosure of which will harm the security and interests of the country.

Baidu Encyclopedia-People's Republic of China (PRC) Law on Guarding State Secrets

Baidu Encyclopedia-People's Republic of China (PRC) Criminal Procedure Law