From "Line Appraisal" to "Case-Process Ratio": Will the New Case Quality Assessment System Facilitate the Changing Role of Chinese Prosecutor?

China’s SPP has shifted its traditional case quality assessment model of “Line Appraisal” to a new system with the “Case-Process Ratio” as the pivotal metric in 2020. This article analyses the latest case quality assessment system and the changing role of China’s prosecutors based on two appraisal documents from the SPP regarding the “Case-Process Ratio” reform and two provincial performance evaluation documents. Through comparing the previous “Line Appraisal” model and the current “Case-Process Ratio” model, this article explains the paradigm shift in the evaluation of prosecutors from the “caseload” model to the “procedure control” model. We argue that this transformation enhances the efficiency of procuratorial practices and augments the defendant’s perception of the procuratorate. Besides, we discovered that the current version of the case quality assessment significantly reduced the indicators relating to criminal litigation, which suggests a role redefinition for Chinese prosecutors. The article also identifies the lack of scientific and practical basis for some of the evaluation indicators. © by Sweet & Maxwell.