The Chinese government’s current suppression of rising internet protests against its barbaric abuse of the blind “barefoot lawyer” Chen Guangcheng raises fundamental questions about the impact of legal reforms on real life in China.

Two weeks ago, a draft of the amendment to Criminal Procedure Law was posted on the website of the National People’s Congress to solicit public comments. This is the first time that the legislature has invited the general public to comment on a proposed amendment to such a major criminal procedure legislation. On Sept. 13 and Sept. 19, 2011, Professor Guo gave two presentations at NYU with comments on the draft, discussing both positive developments and potential problems in the amendment.

Criminal justice has always been a preoccupation of the Chinese people and their governments. The August 30 publication by the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) of a draft comprehensive revision of China’s Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) has opened yet another chapter in the struggle to protect society against crime while protecting individuals against arbitrary state power.

The ominous reticence once-vocal lawyers and activists are showing after release from detention suggests new methods are being used to instill fear

A growing list of media sources quoting USALI in their coverage.