Public and transparent work on sentence reduction and conditional early release

The policy of reducing prison sentences and conditional early release is creating more motivation for prisoners to work at Thanh Phong Prison (Nong Cong).

Reducing the term of serving a prison sentence and conditional early release from prison is a lenient policy of the Party and State, demonstrating the humane and humanitarian tradition of our nation, creating motivation for prisoners to reform well, repent and reintegrate into the community. However, the organization of proposals, consideration and decision for prisoners to enjoy this humane policy is carried out through many stages, many steps of processes and procedures, involving many units and agencies and must ensure the strictness of the law, preventing negative risks. As the final agency in the chain of implementing this policy, playing a decisive role in considering and accepting the reduction of the term of serving a sentence, early release from prison or not, closely following the provisions of the law, the Provincial People's Court has proactively and effectively implemented many solutions, focusing on objectivity, fairness, correct subjects, and compliance with the law in the consideration process.

Mr. Dam Canh Long, Deputy Head of the Inspection, Examination and Enforcement Department, Provincial People's Court, said: "Based on the provisions of the law, every year, the Provincial People's Court has organized 3 rounds of consideration for reducing the term of serving prison sentences and conditional early release for prisoners serving prison sentences in the province, on the following occasions: Southern Liberation Day, National Reunification Day (April 30), National Day (September 2) and Lunar New Year. The organization of the consideration was conducted in accordance with the prescribed order and procedures, with the participation of the Provincial People's Procuracy. The Court focused on reviewing and evaluating impartially and objectively, carefully and thoroughly considering each specific case, closely following the conditions and standards as prescribed to decide whether to accept or partially accept the proposal of the competent authority or not."

In particular, closely following the resolution of the Supreme People's Court's Council of Judges, the consideration of conditional early release from prison is carefully considered and evaluated by the Provincial People's Court for each case, especially for prisoners who have committed crimes related to drugs, corruption, organized crimes, masterminds, leaders, commanders, stubborn, rebellious, thugs, dangerous recidivists... Because these are prisoners who are considered to have a high risk of recidivism, causing disorder and insecurity. Therefore, the number of prisoners considered and decided to accept conditional early release from prison in the past time is not much.

According to the report of the Provincial People's Court, from 2024 to present, the court has considered and decided to conditionally release 158 prisoners early and did not agree to release 27 prisoners. Most of the prisoners decided by the court to be released early are first-time offenders, have made a lot of progress, have a good sense of reform, have a clear place of residence, have served additional penalties such as fines, obligations to compensate for damages and court fees. At the same time, prisoners must have served at least 1-2 terms of fixed-term imprisonment, or at least 15 years for life imprisonment but have been reduced to fixed-term imprisonment...

Also from 2024 to present, the Provincial People's Court has considered and decided to reduce the prison term for 14,990 prisoners, and did not accept the reduction of the sentences of 32 prisoners. Prisoners whose sentences have not been accepted by the court for reduction are assessed as having not made much significant progress, have not been classified as good or excellent continuously, or have been classified as poor or average at the detention facility. In particular, there are prisoners with life sentences who have not been accepted to have their terms reduced to 30 years because they have been pardoned from death penalty to life sentence, have committed especially dangerous crimes, have committed extremely brutal and cruel crimes, and have only served 12 years of their sentence...

According to Deputy Head of the Inspection, Examination and Execution Department Dam Canh Long: "Decisions on accepting or not accepting reduction of prison sentence term or conditional early release are sent to prisoners, the prosecution agency and made public at the detention facility. The decisions clearly state the reasons for accepting or not accepting reduction of prison sentence term or conditional early release. Through that, it has contributed to affirming the objectivity, fairness and democracy in implementing the humane policies of the Party and State, creating motivation for prisoners to reform well, repent and reintegrate into the community."

Article and photos: Dong Thanh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/cong-khai-minh-bach-cong-tac-xet-giam-an-nbsp-va-tha-tu-truoc-thoi-han-co-dieu-kien-248691.htm