Migrant workers born after 1980 committed a third of China's crimes last year, according to a think tank's analysis released on Thursday.
The group of about 100 million people makes up only about 7 percent of China's population.
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said in its report that the segment committed a disproportionate amount of crime because it suffered from discrimination, unfairness and faced other difficulties in the cities where its members worked.
The academy said political and judicial bodies at all levels attached great importance to crimes committed by migrants from rural areas.
The report dismissed the stereotype that the group commits more crime because of poor education, an unprivileged environment for personal achievement, desperation toward society, poverty, or psychological abnormalities.
"Instead, it is discrimination and exclusion, job and education difficulties, unfair political and economic treatment, inadequate social security and relief, and cultural shocks that cause the high crime rates among the group."
The report also detailed the types of crimes young migrant workers are often involved in. They primarily involve taking others' assets and sex offenses and feature small and large groups of offenders. Most criminals are under 25 and there is a trend of offenders getting younger.
The crimes often involve violence.
Jin Gaofeng, co-author of the report included in the academy's annual Blue Book of Rule of Law, told China Daily, "One in three crimes committed by the new generation is actually a normal and comprehensible proportion."
"We have to consider the ratio of the migrant population to permanent residents in certain regions," said Jin.
"For instance, in Beijing's Fengtai and Shunyi districts, the migrant population outnumbers that of local residents."
In a bid to address the problem, the State Council issued a directive in January 2010 promoting coordinated rural and urban development. The directive specifically requires targeted measures to be taken to help with the urbanization of the new generation of migrant workers.
Questions:
1. How much crime was committed by migrant workers born after 1980?
2. How big is that population?
3. What are some reasons?
Answers:
1. A third of China's crimes last year.
2. The group of about 100 million people makes up about 7 percent of China's population.
3. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said in its report that they committed a disproportionate amount of crime because they suffered from discrimination, unfairness and faced other difficulties in the cities where they worked.
(中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑)
About the broadcaster:
Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is also fluent in Korean.