[4] Compiled from: Red Star News
 
Recently, a news story about a 15-year-old teenager speeding and killing an elderly person at night, with the parents receiving a "Family Education Order," has sparked heated discussion.

 
 

Case review
On November 14 last year, 15-year-old Wu from Yangzhou was riding a motorcycle at excessive speed and crashed into an electric tricycle, causing the death of the tricycle driver, Chen. Police investigations revealed that due to Wu's parents' long-term neglect in discipline, he was primarily cared for by his grandparents, leading him to associate with undesirable individuals, frequently ride motorcycles, and engage in illegal activities. Police imposed administrative coercive measures on Wu.

 

The court later determined that Wu bore full responsibility for the accident, requiring his guardians to pay compensation to the victim's family and issuing a "Family Education Order" to Wu's parents.

Many netizens expressed doubt and confusion, saying, "A life lost, and they just issue an education order?" and "What's the difference between an education order and a written guarantee?"

 

Family Education Promotion Law
Article 49
When public security organs, procuratorates, or people's courts discover during case handling that a minor has serious misconduct or commits a crime, or that the minor's parents or other guardians fail to properly implement family education, infringing on the minor's lawful rights, they may reprimand the parents or guardians and order them to accept family education guidance.

 
 

 
[1] The author's perspective
According to the Criminal Law, minors under 16 are generally not criminally liable, except for eight major crimes such as intentional homicide, arson, robbery, and rape. The traffic accident in this case does not fall under these crimes. Although minors are not of criminal responsibility age, they have guardians, who must be held accountable for inadequate supervision.
 
The "Family Education Order" issued by law enforcement agencies carries legal force, requiring implementation and execution with legal seriousness. Under the Family Education Promotion Law and the Prevention of Juvenile Crime Law, local residents' committees, village committees, and women's federations are responsible for supervising, guiding, and criticizing the education of such parents.

Unfortunately, the effect of family education is difficult to quantify. This is also the biggest doubt netizens have about this case: after all, the elderly person has passed away. Will a single "Family Education Order" fail to serve its "educational purpose"? If "minors" become a shield for budding criminal behavior, will it foster more serious incidents? The significance of the law lies not only in punishing crimes but also in establishing correct concepts to prevent them. Therefore, how to balance minors and criminal offenses remains an issue that needs to be considered and resolved as soon as possible.