China's top legislature on Tuesday discussed amendments to seven laws to reconcile with the amended Criminal Procedure Law.

The opening session of the bimonthly meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress deliberated over a draft resolution covering revisions to 18 areas of nonconformity in the Prison Law, Lawyers Law and other bills related to the Criminal Procedure Law.

The draft revision clarifies lawyers' rights in litigations, guaranteeing their right to meet suspects and defendants with due documents such as practicing certificates, credentials from law offices, authorization letters or official letters of legal assistance.

As the right has been enshrined in the amended Criminal Procedure Law, the draft says meetings between lawyers and suspects or defendants will not be monitored.

The revised Lawyers Law will stipulate police should inform lawyers' families based on the Criminal Procedure Law if the lawyers are detained or arrested.

The amendment to the Prison Law adjusted the remaining term of imprisonment, the administration of which should be changed from prisons to detention centers, from one year to three months.

Revisions will also be made to the Law on the Protection of Minors, the Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency, the Law of Punishment for Public Security and Administration, the State Compensation Law and Police Law.

Xinhua

(China Daily 10/24/2012 page3)