Crime has long been a silent partner in China's march to modernization, just as law and order has become increasingly important in legitimizing the Chinese regime. This groundbreaking volume offers the first systematic exploration of the social, economic, political, legal, and practical parameters of crime and control, locating them within a broader milieu of turbulent development and transition. A multidisciplinary group of leading scholars draw on a rich body of empirical data and rare archival research to develop a theoretical, comparative, and historical context for understanding contemporary Chinese crime, policing, and punishment. All those interested in modern and contemporary Chinese politics, law, and society, as well as in comparative criminology and law, will find this work an invaluable resource.