The Construction of Guilt in China

Drawing on insights from Dr Mou's own empirical data obtained from systematic observation of the daily routines within Chinese criminal justice institutions, this ground-breaking research examines the functional deficiency of the criminal justice system in preventing innocent individuals from being wrongly accused and convicted. Setting within a broad socio-legal context, this research outlines the strategic interrelationships between key legal actors, the deep-seated legal culture embedded in practice, the deficiency of integrity of the system and the structural injustices that follow. Dr Mou follows the investigative dossier in the criminal process – how it is constructed, scrutinised and used to dispose of cases and convict defendants in lieu of witnesses' oral testimony – as its focal point. The research illustrates that the Chinese criminal justice system as a state apparatus of social control has been framed through performance indicators, bureaucratic management and the central value of collectivism in such a way as to maintain the stability of the authoritarian power.  

Dr Grace (Yu) Mou is a Senior Lecturer in Criminal Law at SOAS, University of London where she teaches Criminal Justice, Race and Rights, Tort law, and Law and Justice in Contemporary China. Her research examines the on-going criminal justice reform in China, provides a rich description of the criminal process in action, and stimulates debate about the difficult legal issues concerning the way China deals with matters relating to criminal justice and human rights. Prior to joining SOAS, Grace taught at the University of Warwick, from which she received her PhD, and the University of Hull. Her book, The Construction of Guilt in China: An Empirical Account of Routine Chinese Injustice, is based on extended immersion inside a local procuratorate, dozens of interviews, and analysis of 240 evidence dossiers. 

The event will take place in person and online. Please register here. If you plan to attend in person, please register by 12:00 pm on Friday 25 February 2022. Registration for online attendees is available until 12:00 pm on Thursday 3 March 2022.