Topics in Juvenile Justice Reform: A Sino-American Exchange
Event Details:
Thursday April 13, 2023 (Friday April 14, for Beijing)
On April 13, 2023, Dui Hua hosted “Topics in Juvenile Justice Reform: A Sino-American Exchange,” an online expert exchange between Chinese and US experts on juvenile justice.
“Topics in Juvenile Justice Reform: A Sino-American Exchange” marked the ninth expert exchange between US experts and China’s Supreme People’s Court as facilitated by the Dui Hua Foundation. Beginning in 2008 with the support of foundations, governments, and private citizens, the Dui Hua Foundation has co-hosted both in-person and virtual expert exchanges on topics related to juvenile justice, women in prison, girls in conflict with the law, and child welfare with the support of American partners in California and the Bay Area.
These exchanges have been followed by changes to China’s laws as they apply to juvenile offenders. In 2013, the year after China amended the Criminal Procedure Law, Chinese courts convicted and sentenced 56,000 juveniles. The Criminal Procedure Law included, among other things, provisions for diversion (“Postponed prosecution”) and sealing of records. By 2022, the number of juveniles sentenced had been halved to 26,000.
During the event, three panelists from the United States and three panelists from the Supreme People’s Court of China delivered presentations on issues related to juvenile justice reform. The webinar was moderated by Judge Jiang Jihai, Deputy Director-General of Research Office of Supreme People’s Court of China, and John Kamm, founder and executive director of the Dui Hua Foundation.
Kamm opened the remarks by emphasizing the importance of juvenile justice reform:
People sometimes forget that the rights of juvenile offenders are human rights. Children’s rights are human rights, in fact they are among the most important human rights. Juveniles represent our futures and the leaders of all countries, inside and outside of government and judicial circles, have an obligation to protect and nurture them. The emphasis should always be on rehabilitation and not punishment.
The “Topics in Juvenile Justice Reform” webinar featured the following panelists and topics:
“Practices of Beijing Internet Court on the Protection of Legitimate Rights and Interests of Juveniles in Cyberspace” by Sun Mingxi (孙铭溪), Chief Judge, Juvenile Division of Beijing Internet Court.
“Practices of Family Education Guidance System in Sichuan Province” by Fan Yu (范玉), Deputy Chief Judge, No.1 Criminal Division of Sichuan High People’s Court.
“Actively Promoting the Role of Popular Organizations, Improving the Social Support System for Judicial Protection of Juveniles” by Lü Anqi (吕安琪), Official of Juvenile Rights and Interests Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League.
“Congregate Care in the United States” by Judge Mike Nash (ret.), Head of the Los Angeles Office of Child Protection.
“The Role of the Prosecutor in Juvenile Court” by Jean Roland, Managing Attorney for the Juvenile Division of the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.
“Recent Developments in Record Sealing of Juvenile Offenders” by Judge Leonard Edwards (ret.), of Santa Clara County Superior Court.
Following the presentations, panelists answered questions that had been provided by their opposite numbers prior to the event. Commenting on information provided by the Chinese panel, Judge Edwards remarked, “I can see that the Chinese juvenile system is very sophisticated and has been addressing the same issues that we address here in California and the United States.”
Occurring during a period of tension between the United States and China, the exchange stood out for its ability to foster a challenging dialogue. No less important were the importance of the topics discussed, ranging from emerging issues like youth Internet addiction to long-standing issues like record sealing. Judge Jiang, delivering closing remarks, cited the value of the exchange:
I think our event has been very successful, we can learn and refer from each other on matured mechanisms and practices with special characteristics from both countries. Through exchanges, we can accomplish our intended objectives and purposes.
moderators
Dui Hua Founder and Executive Director, John Kamm – American businessman and human rights campaigner.
Director Jiang Jihai (江继海) – Deputy Director-General of Research Office of Supreme People’s Court of China
Panelists
Leonard Edwards – Legal Consultant and Educator, retired Superior Court Judge
Judge Leonard Edwards is a retired Superior Court Judge now working as a consultant and teacher. He provides technical assistance to the courts of California, across the country, and in several foreign countries, particularly in areas involving children and families. Judge Edwards served for 26 years as a Superior Court Judge in Santa Clara County, California. He sat as a domestic relations judge and as a juvenile court judge. He also served for six years as Judge-in-Residence with the Center for Families, Children & the Courts, a division of the California Administrative Office of the Courts.
During his judicial career, Judge Edwards founded and was the first president of the Juvenile Court Judges of California as well as founder of the Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council, Kids in Common, and the Child Advocates of Santa Clara County. Judge Edwards was the President of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges in 2002-2003. Judge Edwards has taught at the University of Santa Clara Law School, Stanford Law School, and the California Judicial College. He has provided judicial trainings in 48 states and 13 foreign countries. Judge Edwards has written widely, including two recent books entitled The Role of the Juvenile Court Judge: Practice and Ethics and Reasonable Efforts: A Judicial Perspective. Judge Edwards has received many awards and was the recipient of the 2004 William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence.
Jean Roland – Managing Attorney, Juvenile Division, San Francisco District Attorney’s Office
Jean Roland is currently the Managing Attorney of the Juvenile Unit in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. She has been with the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office for over 22 years. Prior to managing the Juvenile Unit, she was the Managing Attorney for various units including the Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit, Stalking, Physical Elder Abuse, Domestic Violence, and the Misdemeanor Unit. She has prosecuted serious and violent crimes and has taught and presented at various trainings for law enforcement on Elder Abuse, Domestic Violence and Stalking, including Advanced Officer Training at the San Francisco Police Academy.
Jean Roland is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and Boston University School of Law.
Jean Roland will present on “The Role of the Prosecutor in Juvenile Court.”
Mike Nash – Head of the Los Angeles Office of Child Protection and former Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Juvenile Court
Judge Michael Nash was born in New York City and moved to Los Angeles with his family as a child. He attended college at UCLA and law school at Loyola Law School of Los Angeles. He worked in the criminal division of the Office of the California Attorney General from 1974-1985. He serves as a judge in Los Angeles County from 1985-2015. From 1995-2015 he served as either supervising judge of the juvenile dependency court or presiding judge of the entire juvenile court. Since 2016, he has served as executive director of the Los Angeles County Office of Child Protection.
Mike Nash will present on “Congregate Care in the United States.”
Sun Mingxi (孙铭溪) – Chief Judge, Juvenile Division of Beijing Internet Court
Sun Mingxi, Chief Judge of the 3rd Comprehensive Division (Juvenile Division), holds a master’s degree in civil procedure law. She has been working in the court since 2009, hearing more than 2,000 civil cases, including new types of cases involving Internet-related personal information protection and algorithm disputes.
Fan Yu (范玉) – Deputy Chief Judge, No.1 Criminal Division of Sichuan High People’s Court
Fan Yu, Deputy Chief Judge of the First Criminal Division of the High People’s Court of Sichuan Province is a Judge with a PhD in criminal law from the Southwest University of Political Science and Law. She was honored with the third-class merit citation by the Supreme People’s Court in 2019, awarded as the prominent person in the 2018-2020 People’s War Against Drugs by the Sichuan Provincial Narcotics Control Committee in 2021, and nominated for the 2022 Ten Pioneers for the Rule of Law in Sichuan Province.
Lü Anqi (吕安琪) – Official of Juvenile Rights and Interests Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League
Lü Anqi is an Official of the Policy and Regulations Division, Department of Youth Rights and Interests Protection, Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China. Her experience includes serving as Project Officer, Department of Youth Rights and Interests Protection, All-China Youth Federation. She holds a master’s from the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University