THE AUTHOR OBSERVES THAT THERE IS A VERY LOW LEVEL OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. MOST SOCIALLY DISAPPROVED BEHAVIOR IS DEALT WITH IN ACCORDANCE TO CHAIRMEN MAO TSE TUNG'S PHILOSOPHY ON THE 'CORRECT HANDLING OF CONTRADICTIONS AMONG THE PEOPLE' - IN THIS PHILOSOPHY, ALL CONTROVERSIES ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO CLASSES: THOSE BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND THE ENEMIES OF SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION, AND THOSE BETWEEN THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES. THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT, ACCORDINGLY, TWO DISTINCT PROCEDURAL PATTERNS ARE FOLLOWED IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. CONFLICTS INVOLVING 'THE ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE' (WHICH ALSO INCLUDES SERIOUS CRIMES) INVOLVE 'FORMAL' PROCEEDINGS SOMEWHAT LIKE THE AMERICAN COURTS, THE GREAT MAJORITY OF CONFLICTS, HOWEVER, ARE HANDLED USING THE SECOND PROCEDURE. THIS INVOLVES VERY INFORMAL PROCEDURES WHICH UTILIZE CONCILIATION, MEDIATION, EDUCATION, CRITICISM AND SELF-CRITICISM. THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE WORKINGS OF EACH OF THESE PROCEDURES. A DISCUSSION OF THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF A CRIME PROBLEM IN THIS SOCIALIST COUNTRY IS ALSO PROVIDED.