(Adopted at the Second Session of the Fifth National People's Congress on July 1, 1979. Revised at the Fifth Session of the Eighth National People's Congress on March 14, 1997)

Chapter II Crimes

Section 1 Crimes and Criminal Responsibility

        Article 17 If a person who has reached the age of 16 commits a crime, he shall bear criminal responsibility.
        If a person who has reached the age of 14 but not the age of 16 commits intentional homicide, intentionally hurts another person so as to cause serious injury or death of the person, or commits rape, robbery, drug- trafficking, arson, explosion or poisoning, he shall bear criminal responsibility.
        If a person who has reached the age of 14 but not the age of 18 commits a crime, he shall be given a lighter or mitigated punishment.
        If a person is not given criminal punishment because he has not reached the age of 16, the head of his family or his guardian shall be ordered to discipline him. When necessary, he may be taken in by the government for rehabilitation.