Article 35 of the Criminal Procedure Law
If a criminal suspect or defendant fails to retain a defender due to financial difficulties or other reasons, his or her close relatives may file a lawsuit with a legal aid agency Apply. If you meet the conditions for legal aid, the legal aid agency will assign a lawyer to defend you.
If a criminal suspect or defendant is blind, deaf, mute, or a mentally ill person who has not completely lost the ability to recognize or control his own behavior and has not retained a defender, the people's court, people's procuratorate, and public security agency shall notify the law. Aid agencies appoint lawyers to defend them.
Criminal suspects and defendants may be sentenced to life imprisonment or death. If a defender is not appointed, the People's Court, People's Procuratorate, and Public Security Bureau shall notify the legal aid agency to assign a lawyer.