The Application and Regulation of the System of Leniency for Guilty Pleas and Acceptance of Punishment at the Investigation Stage: An Empirical Study Based on 3617 Judicial Documents
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The Application and Regulation of the System of Leniency for Guilty Pleas and Acceptance of Punishment at the Investigation Stage: An Empirical Study Based on 3617 Judicial Documents

Wenbo Li 1*
1 East China University of Political Science and Law
*Corresponding author: 23040402049@ecupl.edu.cn
Published on 5 November 2025
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LNEP Vol.114
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-511-0
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-512-7
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Abstract

The system of leniency for guilty pleas and acceptance of punishment is conducive to promoting the rational allocation of judicial resources, thereby advancing the high-quality development of criminal justice work. However, current academic research mainly focuses on the prosecution review and trial stages, while studies on the application of this system at the investigation stage remain inadequate. Based on an empirical analysis of 3617 judicial documents from 2019 to 2024, this paper concludes that the application of the system of leniency for guilty pleas and acceptance of punishment at the investigation stage faces three dilemmas: a "high" pre-litigation detention rate, "unmanifested" hierarchical sentencing leniency, and the transformation of duty lawyers into "witnesses". Therefore, it is urgent to promote the application of non-custodial measures in cases involving guilty pleas and acceptance of punishment, establish a stepwise sentencing leniency mechanism, and give full play to the role of duty lawyers. These measures aim to improve and standardize the application of the system of leniency for guilty pleas and acceptance of punishment at the investigation stage.

Keywords:

Investigation Stage, Leniency for Guilty Pleas and Acceptance of Punishment, Judicial Documents

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Li,W. (2025). The Application and Regulation of the System of Leniency for Guilty Pleas and Acceptance of Punishment at the Investigation Stage: An Empirical Study Based on 3617 Judicial Documents. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,114,70-83.

References

[1]. Ye, Q., & Wu, S. Y. (2017). Logical development of the system of guilty plea and acceptance of punishment. Journal of National Prosecutors College, 25(01), 9-19.

[2]. Ye, Q., & Xu, C. (2022). Study on several issues concerning the application of the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment in the investigation stage. Legal Forum, (04), 252-266.

[3]. Bai, Y. (2017). The leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment and the construction of a criminal case diversion system. Journal of Gansu Political Science and Law Institute, (01), 143-151.

[4]. Chen, W. D. (2016). Study on the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment. China Legal Science, (02), 48-64.

[5]. Liu, K. (2019). Application and improvement of the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment in the investigation stage. Journal of Henan Police College, 28(03), 97-103.

[6]. Yuyao People's Procuratorate. (2021, January 7). Zhejiang public security organs, procuratorates, courts and judicial administrative organs jointly issued the Detailed Rules for the Application of the Leniency System for Guilty Plea and Acceptance of Punishment in Criminal Cases in Zhejiang Province. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from http: //www.zjyuyao.zjjcy.gov.cn/art/2021/1/7/art_1229661300_202.html

[7]. Tangyuan People's Procuratorate. (2020, November 20). Detailed Rules for the Application of the Leniency System for Guilty Plea and Acceptance of Punishment in Handling Criminal Cases in Heilongjiang Province (Trial Implementation). Retrieved December 11, 2024, from http: //jmsty.hljjcy.gov.cn/html/567.html

[8]. Longjian Website. (2023, January 17). Work report of Heilongjiang Provincial People's Procuratorate in 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https: //www.hljjcy.gov.cn/hljsrmjcy/C146/1676056387878240257.html

[9]. Zhejiang Online Website. (2024, January 31). Work report of Zhejiang Provincial People's Procuratorate in 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https: //zjnews.zjol.com.cn/zjnews/202401/t20240131_26620203.shtml

[10]. Shanghai People's Congress. (2023, March 17). Research report on the application of the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment by procuratorial organs in this municipality. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https: //www.shrd.gov.cn/n8347/n8407/n9531/u1ai254477.html

[11]. Beijing Political and Legal Website. (2021, September 28). Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate reported to the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress on the application of the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https: //www.bj148.org/wq/szfdw/bjsjcy/202109/t20210928_617895.html

[12]. Deng, Y. F., & Cai, Y. S. (2024). Empirical study on the application of the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment in the investigation stage. Journal of Guangxi Police College, 37(01), 15-25.

[13]. Liu, W. Q. (2018). The "321" stepped leniency sentencing mechanism for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment. Hubei Social Sciences, (12), 147-154.

[14]. Guo, X. (2022). Study on the issue of lawyers' defense in the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment (p. 230). China University of Political Science and Law Press.

[15]. Yan, Z. H. (2017). "Speeding up and leniency": Study on the non-custodialization of cases with guilty pleas. Journal of Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, 32(03), 82-96.

[16]. Yan, Z. H. (2013). Study on the confession-centered doctrine (p. 140). Law Press.

[17]. Sun, C. Y., & Wu, X. L. (2015). Basic situation, changes and improvement of the application of criminal detention before and after the new implementation—An empirical study based on judgment samples from three grass-roots courts in the eastern, central and western regions. Gansu Social Sciences, (01), 166-170.

[18]. Fang, F. (2020). On the sentencing mitigation in the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment. Journal of Chizhou University, (02), 39-43.

[19]. Liu, W. Q., & Liu, R. W. (2019). Guilty plea and acceptance of punishment at different litigation stages under the stepped leniency sentencing. Academic Forum, 42(06), 78-85.

[20]. Wu, Y., & Ge, E. L. (2020, October 13). Practical dilemmas and improvement paths of the voluntariness of guilty plea and acceptance of punishment. Procuratorate Daily, (007).

[21]. Tao, Y. Q., & Mo, K. D. (2020). On the problems of the on-duty lawyer's status as a witness and its improvement paths. Journal of Xinyu University, 25(06), 55-60.

References

[1]. Ye, Q., & Wu, S. Y. (2017). Logical development of the system of guilty plea and acceptance of punishment. Journal of National Prosecutors College, 25(01), 9-19.

[2]. Ye, Q., & Xu, C. (2022). Study on several issues concerning the application of the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment in the investigation stage. Legal Forum, (04), 252-266.

[3]. Bai, Y. (2017). The leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment and the construction of a criminal case diversion system. Journal of Gansu Political Science and Law Institute, (01), 143-151.

[4]. Chen, W. D. (2016). Study on the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment. China Legal Science, (02), 48-64.

[5]. Liu, K. (2019). Application and improvement of the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment in the investigation stage. Journal of Henan Police College, 28(03), 97-103.

[6]. Yuyao People's Procuratorate. (2021, January 7). Zhejiang public security organs, procuratorates, courts and judicial administrative organs jointly issued the Detailed Rules for the Application of the Leniency System for Guilty Plea and Acceptance of Punishment in Criminal Cases in Zhejiang Province. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from http: //www.zjyuyao.zjjcy.gov.cn/art/2021/1/7/art_1229661300_202.html

[7]. Tangyuan People's Procuratorate. (2020, November 20). Detailed Rules for the Application of the Leniency System for Guilty Plea and Acceptance of Punishment in Handling Criminal Cases in Heilongjiang Province (Trial Implementation). Retrieved December 11, 2024, from http: //jmsty.hljjcy.gov.cn/html/567.html

[8]. Longjian Website. (2023, January 17). Work report of Heilongjiang Provincial People's Procuratorate in 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2024, from https: //www.hljjcy.gov.cn/hljsrmjcy/C146/1676056387878240257.html

[9]. Zhejiang Online Website. (2024, January 31). Work report of Zhejiang Provincial People's Procuratorate in 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https: //zjnews.zjol.com.cn/zjnews/202401/t20240131_26620203.shtml

[10]. Shanghai People's Congress. (2023, March 17). Research report on the application of the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment by procuratorial organs in this municipality. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https: //www.shrd.gov.cn/n8347/n8407/n9531/u1ai254477.html

[11]. Beijing Political and Legal Website. (2021, September 28). Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate reported to the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress on the application of the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https: //www.bj148.org/wq/szfdw/bjsjcy/202109/t20210928_617895.html

[12]. Deng, Y. F., & Cai, Y. S. (2024). Empirical study on the application of the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment in the investigation stage. Journal of Guangxi Police College, 37(01), 15-25.

[13]. Liu, W. Q. (2018). The "321" stepped leniency sentencing mechanism for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment. Hubei Social Sciences, (12), 147-154.

[14]. Guo, X. (2022). Study on the issue of lawyers' defense in the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment (p. 230). China University of Political Science and Law Press.

[15]. Yan, Z. H. (2017). "Speeding up and leniency": Study on the non-custodialization of cases with guilty pleas. Journal of Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, 32(03), 82-96.

[16]. Yan, Z. H. (2013). Study on the confession-centered doctrine (p. 140). Law Press.

[17]. Sun, C. Y., & Wu, X. L. (2015). Basic situation, changes and improvement of the application of criminal detention before and after the new implementation—An empirical study based on judgment samples from three grass-roots courts in the eastern, central and western regions. Gansu Social Sciences, (01), 166-170.

[18]. Fang, F. (2020). On the sentencing mitigation in the leniency system for guilty plea and acceptance of punishment. Journal of Chizhou University, (02), 39-43.

[19]. Liu, W. Q., & Liu, R. W. (2019). Guilty plea and acceptance of punishment at different litigation stages under the stepped leniency sentencing. Academic Forum, 42(06), 78-85.

[20]. Wu, Y., & Ge, E. L. (2020, October 13). Practical dilemmas and improvement paths of the voluntariness of guilty plea and acceptance of punishment. Procuratorate Daily, (007).

[21]. Tao, Y. Q., & Mo, K. D. (2020). On the problems of the on-duty lawyer's status as a witness and its improvement paths. Journal of Xinyu University, 25(06), 55-60.

Cite this article

Li,W. (2025). The Application and Regulation of the System of Leniency for Guilty Pleas and Acceptance of Punishment at the Investigation Stage: An Empirical Study Based on 3617 Judicial Documents. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,114,70-83.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on International Law and Legal Policy

ISBN: 978-1-80590-511-0(Print) / 978-1-80590-512-7(Online)
Editor: Renuka Thakore, Abdullah Laghari
Conference website: https://2025.icillp.org/Nawabshah.html
Conference date: 17 October 2025
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.114
ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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