A nationwide investigation of problems existing in China's jails will be jointly launched later this month by the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Justice.

The investigation is mainly to redress jailers' illegal practices in a bid to safeguard the justice of the law and protect prisoners' legitimate rights and interests.

China has carried out a series of reforms on its judicial system, making significant progress in regulating judicial activities in recent years. The legitimate rights and interests of prisoners are protected.

In 2003, the Ministry of Justice, based on the Law on Prisons, formulated and implemented the Regulations on Reform Through Re-education in Prisons, Regulations on the Procedures for Applications by Prisons for Commutation and Parole and Regulations on Visits to and Correspondence with Foreign Prisoners, which further defined the legitimate rights of prisoners in custody.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice is actively pushing for reforming the ways of imposing punishment in prisons and the methods of prison management.

Efforts are being made nationwide to build a prison system that is just, incorruptible, free of abuses and highly efficient, and to guarantee prisoners' legitimate rights and interests.

In many regions like Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, and Lanzhou, Gansu Province, public summons have been implemented for rulings of commutation and parole. Channels are provided for public feedbacks and the suggestions will be reviewed before final decisions are made.

Just last month, a total of 165 commutation or parole rulings were open for public summons in Beijing for the first time.

But in some jails there is still a lack of necessary supervision on jailers' activities, such as reducing prisoners' penalties, releasing prisoners on parole and allowing prisoners to be bailed out for medical treatment.

Though there is a strict legal procedure to be followed, discretional acts have been employed by some lawbreakers. Judicial corruption in these areas, like under-the-table practices, has greatly damaged judicial justice and exerted a baneful influence on society.

The coming inspection is expected to check and redress such illegal practices. Each and every case since 2002 will be re-examined. Unlawful practices will be corrected and those responsible will be punished. The Supreme People's Court has opened a telephone line and e-mail box for reports.

It looks like as long as these detailed requirements are carried out in full, prison management will be more scientific and institutionalized in the near future.

However, it should be pointed out that though no one questions the authorities' good intention in straightening out things behind the bars, problems concerning prisons cannot be solved by merely launching inspection movements.

Hence, the authorities should be mindful of the fact there is always a possibility old problems will resurface once the current initiative is concluded.

(China Daily May 19, 2004)