Article 12 of China's Criminal Procedure Law stipulates that no one shall be found guilty without a judgment by the people's court according to law. Therefore, in the stage of investigation, examination and prosecution, the "prisoner" is called the criminal suspect, and after the stage of examination and prosecution by the procuratorate and trial by the court, the "prisoner" is called the defendant. The most obvious performance is that the public security organs refer to the "prisoner" as a criminal suspect in the prosecution opinions handed over to the procuratorial organs, and the "prisoner" as a "defendant" in the indictment of the procuratorial organs.
Article 34 of China's Criminal Procedure Law stipulates that a criminal suspect has the right to entrust a defender from the day when he is interrogated for the first time by the investigation organ or takes compulsory measures. During the investigation, only lawyers can be entrusted as defenders. The defendant has the right to entrust a defender at any time. When interrogating a criminal suspect for the first time or taking compulsory measures against him, the investigation organ shall inform him that he has the right to entrust a defender. The people's procuratorate shall, within three days from the date of receiving the case materials transferred for examination and prosecution, inform the criminal suspect that he has the right to entrust a defender. The people's court shall, within three days from the date of accepting the case, inform the defendant of the right to entrust a defender. If a criminal suspect or defendant requests to entrust a defender while in custody, the people's court, the people's procuratorate and the public security organ shall promptly convey it. If a criminal suspect or defendant is in custody, his guardian or near relative may also entrust a defender. After accepting the entrustment of a criminal suspect or defendant, the defender shall promptly inform the case-handling organ.
It can be seen that before the prosecution, the "prisoner" is called the criminal suspect, and after the prosecution, the "prisoner" is called the defendant.
In addition, this conclusion can be drawn from articles 1 1, 14 and 176 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
The above answers are for reference only, and I hope they will help you.