Giving youth a robust defense

Prosecutor focuses her work on the overall development of the juvenile prosecution in Shanghai, Li Yingxue reports.

When Gu Chengcong started her career as a prosecutor in 2006, most of her work related to young offenders.

Now, as the deputy director of the ninth department that is focused on juvenile prosecution at Shanghai People's Procuratorate, Gu's work is more comprehensive and diverse, yet she only has one purpose, to better help the minors and improve their prospects for the future.

From finding a more appropriate legal guardian for children involved in criminal cases to preventing minors from being sexually assaulted in small cinemas with private rooms, the 38-year-old has tried to help in different situations.

In the past decade, Gu handled more than 1,200 cases involving minors and successfully helped to educate 200 juveniles involved in the cases.

Gu is also the deputy principal of legal affairs for several primary and secondary schools, a postgraduate trainer at East China University of Political Science and Law, a lecturer on the "rule of law into schools" national tour, and a volunteer for the 12355 hotline for youth psychological counseling and legal aid.