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Foreign-Related Criminal Defense · China

A Loved One Detained in China? The First 37 Days Matter Most.

English-speaking criminal defense team at Zhiheng Law Firm (Shanghai) — a former prosecutor and veteran trial lawyers who have handled 1,000+ criminal cases. We act within 24 hours, anywhere in China.

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1,000+Criminal Cases Handled
10+ YrsFormer Public Prosecutor
24 hRapid Response
All ChinaNationwide Coverage
The Golden Window

Detained in China: 37 Days Decide Everything

Under Chinese criminal procedure, police may hold a suspect up to 30 days before prosecutors must decide on formal arrest within 7 more days. What your lawyer does inside this window shapes the entire case.

Day 1–3

Detention & First Interrogation

Statements made now become core evidence. A lawyer can already be engaged — the single most important step a family can take.

Day 7

Extended Detention Decision

Police decide whether to extend custody. Early lawyer meetings protect against improper interrogation and stabilize the detainee.

Day 30

Arrest Request Deadline

Police must submit the arrest request to the procuratorate. We file non-arrest legal opinions and bail applications before this point.

Day 37

Arrest Decision — Window Closes

Prosecutors approve or reject arrest. Rejection often means release. After approval, the case becomes significantly harder.

What We Do in the First 24 Hours

  • Confirm where your loved one is being held, and on what suspicion
  • Arrange a lawyer meeting at the detention center
  • Assess bail and non-arrest options before the Day-37 decision
  • Send your family a written action plan — in clear English
Every day inside this window counts.
Families abroad usually lose the first week to confusion and distance. Don't.
Map My Next Step →
Are You Facing One of These Situations?

You Do Not Have to Face This Alone

Most families contact us under urgent, stressful circumstances. If any of these sound familiar, talk to a lawyer today.

A family member has been detained or taken away by Chinese police
You received a detention notice but don't understand what it means
An employee or business partner is under criminal investigation
You cannot visit or freely communicate with the detained person
You are unfamiliar with Chinese criminal procedure and its deadlines
You are worried about charges, bail, sentencing or deportation
How a Chinese Criminal Lawyer Can Help

Concrete Legal Action at Every Stage

The earlier a defense lawyer intervenes, the more options remain open. Here is what we actually do — not theory, but action.

Stage 01 · Investigation

Detention & Police Investigation

  • Lawful lawyer meetings with the detainee in the detention center
  • Delivery of daily necessities and family messages
  • Communication with police on case direction
  • Bail (release on guarantee) applications
  • Non-arrest legal opinions to prosecutors before Day 37
Stage 02 · Prosecution Review

Procuratorate Review

  • Full case-file review and evidence analysis
  • Face-to-face communication with prosecutors on charges
  • Detention necessity review — a second chance at release
  • Negotiation of sentencing recommendations before plea decisions
  • Push for non-prosecution where the evidence supports it
Stage 03 · Trial & Appeal

Court Trial & Beyond

  • Defense strategy: acquittal, suspended sentence, or minimum term
  • Pre-trial family briefings and defendant coaching
  • Direct communication with judges on sentencing
  • Post-verdict assessment and appeal guidance
  • Regular English reporting to family throughout
Know the Risks

Common Criminal Risks Foreign Nationals Face in China

Chinese prosecutors handled 55,000+ foreign-related criminal cases in 2025 alone. Most begin without intentional wrongdoing — a visa oversight, a business dispute, a night out. These are the categories that most often bring foreign nationals into the criminal process, ranked by how frequently they occur.

1 · Visa, Employment & Border Offenses

  • Illegal residence, overstay, or working beyond visa scope
  • Illegal employment — for both workers and employers
  • Assisting or organizing illegal border crossing

2 · Drug-Related Offenses

  • Possession, use, transport or trafficking — zero tolerance
  • Hair-sample testing can detect use from months earlier, even abroad
  • Trafficking carries the heaviest sentences in Chinese law

3 · Fraud & Financial Crimes

  • Contract or payment disputes escalating into fraud allegations
  • Bank accounts misused in telecom-fraud fund chains (concealing criminal proceeds)
  • Illegal foreign-exchange and unlicensed business operations

4 · Assault & Public-Order Incidents

  • Bar fights and altercations escalating into criminal charges
  • Alcohol-related disturbances (picking quarrels)
  • Self-defense disputes judged under Chinese standards

5 · Customs & Smuggling

  • Undeclared or mis-declared goods at the border
  • Carrying prohibited items — even unknowingly for others
  • "Small-scale" smuggling that crosses criminal thresholds

6 · Theft, Property & Traffic Offenses

  • Theft, shoplifting, and property damage disputes
  • Misuse of company funds or employer property
  • Drunk or dangerous driving (a criminal offense in China)

* Ranking reflects published data from China's Supreme People's Procuratorate, National Immigration Administration and Ministry of Public Security (2022–2026), and the charge distribution observed across foreign students, long-term residents and short-term business travelers.

A Dedicated Criminal Defense Team

Former Prosecutors & Veteran Trial Lawyers — One Team

Foreign-related criminal cases demand more than a general practitioner. Our team combines English-language client service with deep, battle-tested criminal defense experience across China.

Maggie Ma (Ma Xiuying), lead attorney for foreign-related criminal defense

Maggie Ma · Ma Xiuying

Lead Attorney · Your English-Speaking Point of Contact

Licensed Chinese lawyer and the team's interface for international clients. With a decade of experience serving a U.S. corporation's China operations before entering law, Maggie understands how foreign families and companies think — and explains every step of the Chinese criminal process in clear, plain English.

All consultations, case reports and strategic updates are delivered in English. You will never need to guess what is happening with your case.

TEM-8 Certified English Cross-Border Disputes Family Communication Lead
Qu Xinxin, former public prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer

Qu Xinxin

Former Prosecutor · 15 Yrs

10 years as a public prosecutor (incl. district procuratorate committee member) + 5 years in defense. 1,000+ criminal cases. Specializes in complex, high-stakes defense and criminal-civil crossover matters.

Gao Sishuang, criminal defense lawyer

Gao Sishuang

Criminal Defense · 10 Yrs

Focuses on major, difficult criminal cases. Track record includes bail at the arrest-review stage, non-prosecution decisions, and significant sentence reductions in fraud and economic crime cases.

Mu Guanyu, criminal defense lawyer

Mu Guanyu

Criminal Defense · 9 Yrs

Committee member of the Nanjing Bar Association's criminal litigation committee. Handles only criminal cases, primarily economic crimes — including a death-sentence case reversed on appeal.

Gu Xi, criminal defense lawyer

Gu Xi

Criminal Defense · 13 Yrs

Veteran of major criminal trials, several broadcast by CCTV's legal channel. Known for rigorous evidence analysis and sentencing defense in serious felony cases.

Selected Case Results

Outcomes Our Team Has Achieved

Real defense means real results — not "going through the motions." A selection of anonymized outcomes from our team's recent criminal cases.

No Arrest · Bail Granted

Fraud Allegation · RMB 40M+

Arrest not approved during the investigation stage; client released on guarantee pending trial.

Case Withdrawn

Fraud Allegation · RMB 8M+

Bail secured at the arrest-review stage; police withdrew the case entirely during prosecution review.

Charge Reduced

Border-Related Offenses

Multiple charges including fraud and organizing illegal border crossing reduced to a single lesser charge — sentence cut from 3+ years to 8 months.

Bail in 27 Days

Workplace Safety Offense

Release on guarantee obtained within 27 days of detention through early intervention and prosecution communication.

Sentence Halved

Organized Prostitution Charge

Prosecutors sought 7 years 6 months; final sentence reduced to 2 years through charge and sentencing defense.

Death Sentence Reversed

Intentional Homicide · Appeal

Immediate execution reversed to a suspended death sentence on appeal by our criminal team.

* Cases anonymized to protect client confidentiality. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes; every case depends on its own facts and evidence.

How We Work

A Transparent Process, Reported in English

Families abroad tell us the worst part is not knowing. Our five-stage working method keeps you informed at every step.

1

Investigation Stage

Multiple lawyer meetings with your loved one; engagement documents filed; communication with investigators on case direction; bail application; non-arrest legal opinion submitted before the Day-37 decision; guidance for the family on preserving favorable evidence.

2

Prosecution Review Stage

Full case-file review; at least four lawyer meetings with visual reporting to the family; face-to-face meetings with prosecutors on charge characterization; detention-necessity review (a second bail opportunity); deep negotiation of the sentencing recommendation before any plea decision.

3

Trial Stage

Second full file review against the indictment; at least four further meetings; written legal opinions to the court; continued negotiation on sentencing; defense for acquittal, suspended sentence or the minimum term; pre-trial briefing for family and defendant.

4

After Hearing, Before Verdict

Follow-up communication with the judge based on trial performance; confirmation meetings with the defendant on facts presented at trial.

5

After Verdict, Before Appeal Deadline

Verdict assessment meeting with the defendant; honest evaluation of whether the judgment is reasonable; clear guidance on whether to appeal — in plain English for the family.

Who Typically Contacts Us

  • Family members located outside China
  • Employers of foreign staff working in China
  • Business partners caught in escalating disputes
  • Referrals from consulates, chambers of commerce and international professionals

Confidentiality & Professional Ethics

  • All consultations are strictly confidential
  • Honest legal assessments based on Chinese law — no unrealistic promises
  • Clear written scope of work before engagement
  • Our priority: you understand your situation and can make informed decisions
Frequently Asked Questions

What Overseas Families Ask Us Most

Does detention mean a criminal conviction in China?
No. Detention is part of the investigation process and does not equal conviction. Many cases are resolved at the investigation or prosecution review stage — which is exactly why early legal involvement matters so much.
What do the first 37 days after detention actually mean?
Police may detain a suspect for up to 30 days before the procuratorate must decide within 7 days whether to approve formal arrest. This 37-day window is the golden period for bail applications and non-arrest advocacy. Once formal arrest is approved, the case becomes significantly harder to reverse.
Can a lawyer meet a detained foreigner in China?
Yes. Licensed Chinese criminal lawyers have the legal right to meet detainees in detention centers, deliver daily necessities, and communicate with police, prosecutors and courts about the case.
Can overseas family members hire a lawyer in China?
Yes. Families, employers and business partners located outside China can engage a Chinese criminal lawyer. Our team handles engagement, power of attorney and all case reporting in English — you do not need to travel to China to start.
Can our embassy or consulate solve the case?
Consulates can visit their nationals and share lawyer lists, but they cannot intervene in Chinese judicial proceedings, pay legal fees or secure release. Only a licensed Chinese defense lawyer can act inside the criminal process.
Can a foreign national get bail in China?
Yes. Foreign nationals may apply for release on guarantee pending trial (取保候审, qubao houshen). The legal criteria are the same as for Chinese nationals, though practical handling differs. Early, well-grounded applications materially improve the chances of success.

Time Matters in Chinese Criminal Cases

If someone you care about is detained or under investigation in China, tell us what happened. We will explain your options clearly — and what we would do in the first 24 hours.

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Zhiheng Law Firm (Shanghai) 知恒（上海）律师事务所 41F, Times Financial Center, 68 Yincheng Middle Road,
Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai, China
上海市浦东新区陆家嘴银城中路68号时代金融中心41层
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