What does the golden 37 days in criminal cases mean?

In criminal cases, there is a saying that "golden 37 days". The so-called "golden 37 days" refers to the time from the decision of criminal detention made by the investigation organ to the decision of the procuratorate to approve the arrest. In criminal proceedings, this period belongs to the investigation stage, during which the procuratorial organ will finally decide whether to approve the arrest of the suspect. Because it usually takes 37 days, it is also called "37-day golden rescue period" in the criminal defense industry. 37 days is not the time arbitrarily decided by the investigation organ or the procuratorial organ, but the legal maximum criminal detention period stipulated by the Criminal Procedure Law.

Legal basis: Article 91 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC). If the public security organ deems it necessary to arrest the detained person, it shall submit it to the people's procuratorate for examination and approval within three days after detention. Under special circumstances, the approval time can be extended by one to four days.

For major suspects who commit crimes on the run, commit crimes many times or commit crimes in collusion, the time for submitting for examination and approval may be extended to 30 days.

The people's procuratorate shall, within seven days after receiving the approval letter from the public security organ, make a decision on whether to approve or disapprove the arrest. If the people's procuratorate does not approve the arrest, the public security organ shall immediately release it after receiving the notice and promptly notify the people's procuratorate to execute it. Those who need to continue the investigation and meet the conditions of obtaining a guarantor pending trial or residential surveillance shall be granted a guarantor pending trial or residential surveillance according to law.