In regular detention centers, institutional norms like the presence of guards and prosecutors can serve as a deterrent to violations. Tang JitianPhotoMr. Tang, one of the country’s most prominent defense lawyers, was arrested in 2011 for his work defending activists including Chen Guangcheng, the blind dissident who would later escape house arrest and hide in the United States Embassy in Beijing. Tang ZhishunPhotoMr. Tang, originally trained as an engineer, became involved in civil rights activism when fighting to keep the authorities from tearing down his home. Mr. Tang served more than a year in detention, first under residential surveillance, then in a regular detention center in Tianjin. I believe justice comes for everyone one day, and those who have done wrong will get the punishment they deserve.

Source: New York Times November 25, 2017 19:30 UTC