The people?s procuratorates have the right to exercise procuratorial authority. They exercise this authority over cases endangering state and public security, and infringing upon citizens? personal and democratic rights, and other important criminal cases; examine the cases scheduled for investigation by the public security organs, and decide on whether a suspect should be arrested or not, and whether a case should be prosecuted or exempt from prosecution; institute and support public prosecution in criminal cases; and oversee the activities of the public security organs, people?s courts, prisons, houses of detention and reform-through-labor institutions.

The people?s procuratorates, as well as the people?s courts, exercise their own authority according to law, independent of interference from any administrative organ, mass organization or individual person. All citizens are equal regarding the application of the law in this regard.