147 prisoners have left prison on parole, to spend the Spring Festival with their families at home, the Beijing Bureau of Prison Administration announced on Tuesday.

The measure goes hand-in-hand with the policy of punishment with leniency in this harmonized society, and will help the prisoners to reshape their souls.

Another 410 prisoners received reduced sentences, as reward for their penitent performance in prison.

At the same time, two prisoners suffered increased punishment for committing violence, with one prisoner seeing his parole terminated for deception.

Beijing allowed 1,182 such 'ticket-of-leave' men in 2006. Though their number is rising, the rate of re-offending among such paroled prisoners is low.

(CRI February 14, 2007)