Twelve female prisoners in the Beijing Women's Prison will be able to spend a whole day with their husbands in specially prepared private rooms this Spring Festival.

A Beijing News report said yesterday it is the first time the prison has arranged "live-together" visits for its prisoners and their spouses.

In the past, visits from family members usually lasted for a few hours and took place in special meeting rooms.

This Chinese New Year, the women will stay with their husbands for 24 hours in standard guest rooms provided by the prison on the first or second day of the holiday.

The prison has set up a two-storey building for the reunion. It has 12 standard guest apartments, with separate bathrooms, double beds and other necessary facilities for the special day.

The Beijing News quoted a prison official as saying that they would select one woman with excellent behaviour from each of the prison's 12 units.

The prison authorities are now sorting out the criteria for the selection process and have begun to accept applications from prisoners.

The prison will also provide free banquets for prisoners during which they can meet family members during Spring Festival.

Located in Daxing County near Beijing, the prison is the only one in the city for women. According to Xinhua, it has more than 900 prisoners.

Among them, 41 percent committed economic crimes, 25 percent committed violent crimes and 7.9 percent committed drug-related crimes. Some of them have degrees.

In November, the prison held a quiz on AIDS knowledge for prisoners to promote awareness.

(China Daily January 9, 2006)