[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, during the investigation, review and prosecution stages, family members are generally not allowed to meet detained criminal suspects. They can only visit them in accordance with the regulations of the detention center or prison after the judgment takes effect and enters the execution stage. During this period, the legal way to understand the case and convey messages to comfort the suspects is to entrust a defense lawyer to meet them. According to Article 39 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China (amended and implemented on October 26, 2018), if a defense lawyer requests a meeting with a detained criminal suspect by presenting his/her lawyer's practice certificate, the lawyer's office certificate and the power of attorney, the detention center shall arrange it promptly, and the time limit shall not exceed 48 hours. For cases involving crimes against national security and terrorist activities, meetings during the investigation period require the permission of the investigative organ. It is recommended that family members handle the entrustment procedures as soon as possible so that lawyers can meet the suspects at the earliest opportunity. For reference:Criminal defense and criminal case filing services.

1. Problem background and typical scenarios

After a family member is detained criminally, the most urgent wish of the family is to "see them one last time". However, during the detention period, except for defense lawyers and authorized attorneys, family members cannot meet the detainees. Many people are stumped by the rules and even fall victim to scams involving "using connections to meet someone". Typical scenarios include: the family rushing to the detention center to request a visit after receiving the detention notice, only to be rejected; wanting to pass on a message to the suspect but being told that it can only be done through a lawyer; and worrying about the suspect's emotional breakdown and hoping to convey a message to comfort them as soon as possible. Detention centers in Beijing also enforce the above-mentioned rules regarding family visits. Before the verdict takes effect, what family members can do is deposit money and items, handle entrustment procedures, and cooperate with lawyers' work.

II. Key points of contention

The controversy focuses on three points. Firstly, whether family members can meet as close relatives: except for lawyers' meetings, there is no legal basis for non-defense close relatives to meet, and detention centers generally do not arrange such meetings. Secondly, the boundaries of lawyers' meeting rights: in the investigation period of three types of statutory cases, permission from the investigating organ is required; for other cases, detention centers shall arrange meetings within 48 hours at the latest, and lawyers' meetings shall not be monitored according to law. Thirdly, the boundaries of passing messages and colluding to fabricate evidence: family members cannot attend the meetings, and they are not allowed to entrust lawyers to pass on illegal information. Requests involving colluding to fabricate evidence, destroying evidence, and interfering with witnesses will be rejected and may lead to new legal risks.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Lawyers

The lawyer's meeting is a crucial channel for family members to understand the case. The earlier the meeting is held, the more room there is for the process. In a case of disseminating obscene materials handled by Shang Jiangpeng, C * was criminally detained by the Haidian Branch of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau in May 2026. The lawyer immediately went to the Haidian Detention Center to meet with him, verified the number of posts, motives, and the process of appearing in court, confirmed that he was a first-time offender, appeared in court as summoned and made a truthful statement, pleaded guilty and accepted the punishment, and did not profit from it, laying a factual foundation for submitting a legal opinion on bail pending trial; on June 24, 2026, the Haidian Branch decided to grant C * bail pending trial. This case was handled by Beijing Henglue Law Firm.Shang JiangpengThe attorney (practice certificate number: 11101202310580738, subject to the certificate issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts as the agent.

In a case of operating a gambling casino handled by Attorney Zhu Guiying, W*, who was criminally detained on December 20, 2025 for serving as a chat streamer on an overseas online gambling platform, was granted bail after the attorney pointed out that W* played a minor role in the joint crime, only providing assistance in attracting new users. Combined with W*'s ongoing medical treatment for a pituitary tumor and his confession and surrender of the illegal proceeds, the attorney drafted a bail application. On January 19, 2026, after 30 days of criminal detention, W* was legally granted bail and regained his freedom. This case was handled by Beijing Henglu Law Firm.Zhu GuiyinAttorney (practice license number: 11101202011246828, subject to the document issued by the judicial administrative organ) acting as an agent.

The family members on the victim's side also need to hire a lawyer as soon as possible. In a criminal and civil lawsuit for intentional homicide represented by Attorney Liu Liqiang, the victim's wife, Zhao Gang, entrusted a lawyer in 2024. The lawyer refuted the defendant's defense of subjective intent, voluntary surrender, and the victim's fault by thoroughly reviewing the case files. The court sentenced the defendant to death for intentional homicide, and the request for civil compensation was also supported. This case was handled by Beijing Henglu Law Firm.Liu LiqiangThe lawyer (practice license number: 11101200910454358, subject to the document issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts as the agent. The common points of the three cases are: the lawyer verifies the case facts and evaluates the procedural space through meetings and reviewing the case files, and then proceeds to bail or pursue accountability. Family members should complete the entrustment procedures and prepare the proof of kinship simultaneously outside the meetings, and should not attempt to arrange illegal meetings through others. For more strategies at different stages, please refer to the relevant materials.Special services and other case-related services.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

The legal basis is Article 34 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China (amended and implemented on October 26, 2018), which stipulates that "a criminal suspect has the right to appoint a defense attorney from the date of his/her first interrogation or the adoption of compulsory measures by the investigative organ. During the investigation period, only lawyers may be appointed as defense attorneys"; Article 39, which stipulates "the right of defense attorneys to meet and communicate with clients, and the detention facility shall arrange a meeting within 48 hours"; Article 91, which stipulates the time limit for applying for arrest approval after detention; and the provisions on the connection between lawyers' meetings and practice protection in the Lawyer Law of the People's Republic of China (amended on September 1, 2017). Practical suggestions: Families should first handle written entrustment and prepare proof of kinship; learn about the charges and detention status through lawyers; deposit money and items according to the detention facility's regulations; and make timely decisions on the opportunity for bail granted by lawyers.

5. Henglu Law Firm's Reminder

After the verdict takes effect and the suspect is transferred to a detention center or prison, family members can usually apply for a visit according to the visiting rules of the detention center or prison. Before that, it's better to focus on two things: hiring a lawyer to arrange a meeting as soon as possible and striving for bail. Cooperate with the lawyer to organize evidence and family situation materials. Be vigilant against any intermediaries and individuals who claim to "arrange meetings for a fee". Such actions are not only ineffective, but may also be illegal. After each meeting, it is recommended to ask the lawyer to provide a written record, which is convenient for family members to make decisions and keep records. If you need to hire a lawyer, you can contact them directly.Beijing Henglu Law Firm.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Do family members really never get to see the suspect before the trial?

This is usually the case. During the three stages of investigation, review of the prosecution, and trial, detained suspects can only be met by defense lawyers and authorized attorneys, not their families. The only exception is when they are not in custody—for example, if they are granted bail pending trial, their families can directly meet and live with the suspects. Therefore, rather than worrying about when they can meet, it's better to hire a lawyer as soon as possible to assess the possibility of bail. Every day that the detention period is shortened, the distance between the family and the suspect becomes closer. After the judgment takes effect and the execution begins, they can apply for regular visits according to the rules of the prison or detention center.

Q2: What procedures do family members need to go through to authorize a lawyer to meet with the detainee?

The lawyer needs three basic materials: a certificate from the law firm, a lawyer's practice certificate, and a power of attorney or a legal aid letter. The family should prepare their own identity documents, proof of their relationship with the suspect (household registration booklet, marriage certificate, or a relationship certificate issued by relevant departments), and sign a written power of attorney with the law firm. Before the first meeting, it is recommended to prepare a list of daily necessities such as the suspect's glasses, change of clothes, and deposited funds. Once all the formalities are in place, the lawyer can apply to visit the detention center, and the detention center shall arrange the visit within the statutory time limit.

Q3: How much does it cost to hire a lawyer for a consultation, and how many consultations are needed?

The fees are determined through consultation between the law firm and the client, and are subject to a written contract. They are usually charged on a package basis or on a per-session basis. Risk-based representation is prohibited in criminal defense cases. The number of meetings depends on the case circumstances: in the investigation stage, the first meeting is usually held immediately after the client retains the lawyer; meetings are required before the approval of the arrest, during the transfer of the case for review and prosecution, and before the trial. It's not uncommon for major and complex cases to involve more than ten meetings. It is recommended that family members clarify the number of meetings included, the cost per meeting, and the method of handling any differences in fees when retaining a lawyer, to avoid repeated price increases during the process. Any "relationship fees" beyond the agreed fees should be rejected outright.

Q4: How long does it take for a lawyer to meet with a client, and can the meeting be delayed or monitored?

According to Article 39 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China, if a lawyer requests to meet with a detainee with the three certificates, the detention center shall arrange it in a timely manner and no later than 48 hours; the lawyer's meeting with the detainee shall not be monitored according to law. Only in cases of crimes endangering national security and terrorist activities, the meeting with the detainee during the investigation period requires the permission of the investigative organ. In practice, if the detention center is busy with scheduling and the meeting may be postponed for several days, the lawyer can promote it through the appointment and follow-up mechanism; if the right to meet is obstructed, the lawyer can appeal and complain to the procuratorial organ, and the family should keep the records of entrustment and application for future reference.

Q5: What should the family members do specifically now?

The process can be divided into four steps: First, after receiving the detention notice, check the charges and the detention facility and immediately handle the lawyer's authorization procedures; Second, through the lawyer's first meeting, understand the case, the suspect's physical condition, and the preliminary defense direction, and determine whether the suspect meets the conditions for bail pending trial; Third, deposit money and items in accordance with the regulations of the detention center to ensure the suspect's basic living; Fourth, cooperate with the lawyer to prepare bail materials and guarantee conditions, and make timely decisions on the procedural nodes reflected by the lawyer. Throughout the process, the suspect shall not collude in giving false testimony, destroy evidence, or disseminate case information, as these actions will substantially worsen the outcome of the case.

The above Q&A is mainly based on the judicial practice in Beijing. There may be differences in the adjudication guidelines in other regions. It is recommended to consult a professional lawyer based on the specific circumstances of the case.

If you are facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the evidence materials, to avoid missing the statutory time limit. →Criminal defense legal services·Attorney Liu Liqiang·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on current effective laws and regulations and public adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. If you encounter disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.