Grassroots justice worker in Beijing devoted to rehabilitating convicts

Before heading to work each day, Lyu Mingfeng always pins on an emblem of the Communist Party of China.

"It's been my routine for over a decade," said Lyu, who leads the justice department in Beiqijia township in Beijing's Changping district. "The emblem for me is more beautiful and shinier than any jewelry. It makes me feel a sense of mission."

Lyu, 40, originally studied mining in college, but unlike many of her classmates who pursued careers in that industry or sought opportunities in bigger cities, she returned to her hometown after graduation.

"I love the people and environment here, and I want to use my knowledge to serve this place and its residents," she said.

Driven by her interest in law and front line services, Lyu passed the national judicial examination after graduating. She joined the township's justice department in 2014.

For the past 10 years, she has helped manage and rehabilitate people who are under probation or on parole. Under laws and regulations on community corrections, those undergoing rehabilitation are required to attend justice institutes for legal education and report on their living conditions. Meanwhile, officers at these institutes oversee their progress, often through phone calls and in-person meetings.

Lyu said she prefers addressing people's difficulties face-to-face rather than sitting behind a desk.

"Even with numerous cases and physical exhaustion, I can feel a sense of fulfillment, as interacting with residents at the grassroots level is not just my job choice, but also where I find joy," she said.

So far, she has been involved in more than 500 correctional cases and has helped rehabilitate 426 individuals.

"My principle is simple: once I take charge of a correctional case, I will see it through to the end," she said.

One case that left a deep impression on Lyu involved a truck driver surnamed Xiong, who was sentenced to two years of probation — with the possibility of a two-year prison term if he violates the probation terms — for his role in a fatal traffic accident.

Although the freight company compensated the victim's family, they filed a lawsuit against Xiong seeking further compensation. Upon being sued, Xiong took a job as a food deliveryman to earn money to pay them.

While assisting Xiong during his probation, Lyu said his situation pushed her to take extra steps to help him get back on track.

"Having lost his parents at a young age, Xiong feels sorrow for the victim's family. The 49-year-old, unmarried and childless, works tirelessly delivering food alone, hoping to earn more money to compensate them, even though he isn't obligated to pay additional compensation under the law," she said.

"What struck me is his cheerful demeanor every time we met. He always says 'I'm feeling great', and even uses the phrase as his nickname on social media platforms. But I know he needs my support because his anxiety often surfaced whenever he received court notifications and attended judicial activities in our department.

"Behind his smiling facade, he harbors vulnerability that could be easily triggered by the smallest things," she added.

Beyond providing legal services, Lyu has arranged for Xiong's landlord not to raise his rent to ease his financial burden and scheduled monthly psychological counseling sessions for him.

In addition to helping rehabilitate people like Xiong, Lyu assists with the resettlement of ex-convicts, mediates disputes and promotes legal knowledge among residents. In the past three years, she has helped draft 245 legal documents for residents and organized more than 60 legal education activities.

"The grassroots work may appear to be trivial, but it's important," Lyu said. "Handling these seemingly small matters well is crucial for the harmony of every family and, more importantly, for overall social security and stability."