Draft revision to Prison Law emphasizes rehabilitation, oversight

Prisons are set to enlist experts in law, education, psychology and social work to assist in rehabilitating inmates, as part of efforts to make the correctional process more science-based, professional and community-involved, according to a draft amendment.

The draft revision to the Prison Law was submitted to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, on Monday for a third review. In general, a draft or amendment in China becomes law after being deliberated by the NPC Standing Committee three times.

To improve the quality of prison rehabilitation, the draft amendment stipulates that prison staff should provide support and facilities to colleges, research institutions and other organizations, which in turn will conduct research on sentence enforcement and facilitate talent exchanges.

The draft also highlights the importance of innovative rehabilitation measures, calling for efforts to help inmates rebuild healthy identities, become self-reliant, turn their lives around and enhance their chances of successful reintegration into society.

Additionally, it allows prisons to reasonably schedule the frequency and length of inmates' phone calls and in-person visits with their families, based on rehabilitation needs, security classification and custody level. Video calls can also be arranged.

Moreover, prosecutors are urged to intensify oversight of sentence execution outside prison, as well as sentence reductions and paroles, while the conduct of prison staff is to be further regulated, according to the draft amendment.