A criminal letter of understanding generally refers to a written document of a legal nature issued by the victim when the victim and the criminal suspect or their families reach a settlement on the handling result of a criminal case. The letter of understanding is generally completed in the process from public prosecution to court cross-examination, and has the effect of discretionary mitigation and lighter punishment in criminal law.

The criminal letter of understanding itself has no fixed format. The purpose of issuing letters of understanding is to reduce the punishment of criminal suspects, and some can release criminal suspects on bail pending trial. Therefore, the letter of understanding is sent by the victim to the criminal's family, and is generally handled by the responsible lawyer. But if the circumstances are minor and you don't need to hire a lawyer, you can refer to the format of this letter of understanding.

If the premise of the letter of understanding causes harm to the victim, it shall be clearly stated that the compensation has been reached and the actual compensation has ended. If there is no harm to the victim, there is no need to express it, but the focus of the letter of understanding should be clear that the victim has understood and the victim requests to be exempted from investigating the criminal responsibility of the defendant (criminal suspect).

Extended data

Article 278 of the Criminal Procedure Law: If both parties reach a settlement, the public security organ, the people's procuratorate and the people's court shall listen to the opinions of the parties and other relevant personnel, examine the voluntariness and legality of the settlement, and preside over the preparation of a settlement agreement.

Article 279 The public security organ may make suggestions to the people's procuratorate for leniency in cases where a settlement agreement is reached. The people's procuratorate may put forward suggestions for lenient punishment to the people's court; If the circumstances of the crime are minor and there is no need to be sentenced to punishment, a decision not to prosecute may be made. The people's court may punish the defendant lightly according to law.

Reference: China Court Network-Criminal Procedure Law