Ten prisoners on Friday were given permission by the Beijing
Municipal Prison Administrative Bureau to enjoy a weekend out of
jail with their families.
It is the first time the authorities have allowed prisoners to
spend a weekend at home, which is widely regarded as a humanitarian
approach to prison management.
The 10 prisoners have all performed well in serving more than
half of their time in prison and their remaining prison terms are
no more than one year, which are major conditions for getting the
permission, according to a senior bureau official.
The prisoners were required to go through temporary residence
procedures at their local public security bureau and to return to
prison Sunday afternoon.
A prisoner surnamed Li told Xinhua that he has been in prison
for 10 years and is scheduled for release in half a year. The free
weekend offers him a golden opportunity to learn more about the
fast-changing world, which will definitely benefit his future life,
he said.
The bureau official said the move is a trial measure in the
reform of the city's prison management, and will help prisoners
adjust their mentality and rebuild their confidence before
returning to society.
(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2003)