China's legal aid services improve

SHENZHEN -- Legal aid services across China handled 645,000 cases in the first half of the year, helping about 708,000 people, according to the Ministry of Justice.

At a recent national workshop of justice department chiefs held in the city of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, the ministry said legal aid system in the criminal justice had been improved and a guideline strengthened quality control.

Campaigns provided better aid services to the rural population and the disabled. More than 2,500 legal aid workstations were set up in detention centers and another 3,400 in courts, the ministry said, adding that the aim was to expand such workstations to cover all centers and courts.

The ministry website directs people to the appropriate services they seek. College students work as volunteers at short staffed, grassroots offices in poor and remote regions.