The separate case handling system in China's criminal justice is designed to meet the needs of case handling,characterized by the dominance of public authority,stage-specific applicability,and case spe-cificity.Handling separate cases based on whether co-offenders plead guilty or not guilty helps improve litiga-tion efficiency and invigorate the system.However,it also faces such problems as unclear legal basis,insuffi-cient supervision,restricted rights of the accused,and the risk of prejudgment.The causes of these issues are linked to China's traditional ways of case handling that prioritizes substance over procedure,the unachieved dy-namic balance in the view of litigation,the cooperative yet insufficiently restrictive relationship between public security,procuratorates,and courts,and the adjudication mode focused on written records.To correct the dis-torted practices,it is essential to establish a unified system for separate case handling,clarify and standardize procedures,strengthen supervision and effectiveness of constraints,ensure the protection of rights,and define the scope of res judicata.These measures aim to implement the trial-centered litigation system reform goals.
separate case handling systemjoint crimeleniency for guilty pleasright to a fair trialrights protection