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Inmates allowed family reunion for Spring Festival
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-01-26 17:11
Zhai Jun could hardly hold back his tears before his parents, who came to
take him home for the imminent traditional Spring Festival -- the first time
since he was imprisoned a decade ago.
"I will try my best to be a good, filial son during the parole," said Zhai, a
serving inmate in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous
Region.
The regional prison authority has granted 150 inmates permission to spend the
seven-day festival parol at home during the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar
New Year that falls on Jan. 29.
The 150 have been registered for their decent behaviors behind bars and were
given the family-reunion preferency as an reward, sources with the regional
prison authority said.
China launched a home-visiting mechanism for inmates in 1985. The Prison Law
and inmate reeducation schemes enables inmates to apply for a parole of three to
seven days during major Chinese holidays.
Ningxia implemented the family reunion policy four years ago. All those
inmates subjected to preferential treatment have returned to prisons on time,
with still better performance during their remaining days behind the bar,
officials recalled.
The Lunar New Year, traditionally a cherished time for family reunions, is
taken as the prime occasion in Chinese culture for people to enjoy affections
among family members.
Prison administration in Shanghai also granted the special treatment for a
number of inmates recently.
"With home-visiting, which differs from families visiting the prison, inmates
can feel the familial bond and warmth with their near and dear ones. It lends a
humane touch to their reeducation," said a police officer surnamed Cai with the
prison Administration.
Earlier this month, the Beijing Women's Prison announced that 12 inmates
would be permitted to spend their traditional Chinese festival with their
husbands in specially prepared private rooms for 24 hours.
Prison Law provides family-visit rights for prisoners, but does not specify
what form visits and paroles should take, which means that inmates are able to
make their own rules and regulations, said Xu Xiuchang, the publicity chief of
Beijing Prison Administration.
Prison management constitutes a part of building a harmonious society, Xu
acknowledged, saying that the recent moves taken by Chinese prisons indicate
more scientific, effective and humane approaches for criminals recreational
work.
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