According to Article 34 of the Criminal Procedure Law, juvenile criminal suspects and defendants are not listed as legal aid targets, because guardians of juvenile criminal suspects and defendants should perform their guardianship duties and hire defense lawyers for minors.
However, if the juvenile criminal suspect or defendant is a street child, the people's court may notify the legal aid institution to appoint a defense lawyer in other circumstances according to Article 43 of the Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court on Several Applicable Issues.
In the stage of examination and prosecution, according to Article 36 of the Criminal Procedure Rules of the People's Procuratorate, the People's Procuratorate shall inform minors that they can apply for legal aid.
Of course, according to lawyers' understanding of the law, public security organs and people's procuratorates should inform legal aid institutions to appoint defense lawyers in the investigation stage or the prosecution stage in accordance with the principles of criminal procedure.