Prisoners' rights protected by information technology

BEIJING - Information technology used in Chinese prisons has effectively safeguarded inmates' human rights, a human rights official said.

Recent years have witnessed marked progress in introducing IT to prisons nationwide, said Feng Jiancang, head of the Human Rights in Justice office of the Institute for Crime Prevention under the Ministry of Justice.

Citing an intranet system launched in Beijing prisons that allows inmates to shop online and order meals when their relatives visit them, Feng said IT-based management has "further upheld prisoners' legal rights."

"Some may argue that human rights are irrelevant for inmates, which is a mistake," Feng said.

The use of IT has also boosted security and education for inmates, as well as aided prison guards, Feng said.

In 2007, the Ministry of Justice implemented a program designed to extend IT to prison management.

All 28 provincial-level regions on the mainland have established an intranet for local prisons, Feng said.