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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(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2006)