Institute seeks to help convicts return to society

China's first institute providing educational training for former prisoners and people sentenced to undertake community service has been established in Beijing's Haidian district, Beijing Daily reported on Tuesday.

The Sunshine Halfway Institute, established in cooperation with several universities in the district, offers psychological treatment and skills training, aiming to help those convicted of crimes return to society, the report said.

The district's justice bureau said the institute will also conduct research related to prisoners and community correction.

It said prospective students must first complete a psychological questionnaire in which they list their hobbies and intended career plan.

The institute has courses including politics, law, literature and psychology, and also offers skills training, such as gardening and electrical engineering.