Overwhelmed with emotion on the day I received the good news.
We were at the Lam Dong Provincial Police's Detention Center No. 1 in late August. In the central area, a group of inmates were repainting the courtyard to create a sports field. Among them was a man with graying hair. Mr. Tran Van Thanh (born in 1969, Nam Ban commune, Lam Dong province). Mr. Thanh was holding a paint roller, rolling white lines on the asphalt surface of the courtyard. These white lines symbolize his daily efforts to rewrite a new chapter in his life. Mr. Thanh was sentenced to 48 months in prison for gambling and facilitating gambling; he has served over 32 months and was granted early release 16 months before his sentence was over. "Coming here, I truly understand the price of my mistakes. Many nights I toss and turn thinking about my family, hoping for the day I can return to take care of my wife, children, and grandchildren," he said sadly.
The white paint streaks on the black background are like Mr. Thanh's attempt to rewrite the chapter of his life of mistakes.
When he received the news that his name was on the amnesty list, he was overwhelmed with joy. From Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi , and Lao Cai, his children informed each other and prepared to return home to await their father's return. "My grandchildren have already returned to Nam Ban these past few days. They're counting down the days until they can see their grandfather again. Thinking about the whole family reuniting makes me so happy I can't sleep. This is a valuable lesson in my life. From now on, I will live differently and never repeat my mistakes again," Mr. Thanh affirmed.
Mr. Thanh will try to turn his life around.
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"Thinking of my wife, children, and grandchildren who are counting down the days waiting for me, I feel an even greater sense of responsibility. I will live a good life so as not to betray the trust and love of my family and the leniency of the State."
Mr. Tran Van Thanh shared:
Not only the older inmates, but many young prisoners also shed tears on the day they learned they were going home. Nguyen Thanh Tung (born in 2002, residing in Xuan Huong ward, Da Lat, Lam Dong province), a coffee shop owner in Lam Dong, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for disturbing public order after a drunken brawl. He recounted that he had been drunk from noon until afternoon, coupled with a conflict with his neighbor, and lost control of himself, leading to the incident. “When I first entered prison, I was sad and regretful about the mistakes I had made. But thanks to the encouragement of the prison guards and the frequent visits from my girlfriend, I tried to reform. Now that I've been granted amnesty and received the leniency of the law, I only hope to quickly return home to start over, stabilize my work, and build a family,” Tung confided.
Humanitarian policies pave the way for reintegration.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Canh, Deputy Superintendent of Prison Facility 1 – Lam Dong Provincial Police, this year's amnesty has many new features and profound humanitarian significance. Previously, prisoners had to serve at least half of their sentence to be eligible for amnesty; now, only one-third is required. The scope of eligible individuals has also been expanded, allowing more people a chance. “Amnesty is a major policy of the Party and State, reflecting the tradition of humanity and leniency, encouraging prisoners to strive for rehabilitation and correction of their mistakes. At our facility, we anticipate 38 prisoners will be eligible for this policy on September 2nd, 2025,” Lieutenant Colonel Canh stated. In addition to focusing on reviewing files, the prison also pays special attention to the education and motivation of prisoners.
Tung's joy at soon returning to normal life.
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The important thing is to help inmates understand their mistakes, thereby fostering a desire to rebuild their lives. We always listen to them and encourage them so they don't feel ashamed, believing that when they return, their families and society will still welcome them with open arms. This transformation in their awareness is the foundation for them to become good citizens.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trong Xuan, a correctional officer at Detention Center No. 1, Lam Dong Provincial Police, who directly participated in the rehabilitation work, shared his experience.
To implement the policy correctly, the prison management board simultaneously posted notices, reviewed each case file, and conducted rigorous reviews to avoid errors. Inmates were also guided on how to write pardon applications, comparing them against the criteria to ensure fairness and transparency. “This is not only an act of leniency, but also a message to society: anyone who makes mistakes has a chance to correct them if they sincerely repent. The pardon policy helps them reintegrate into the community and become useful citizens,” Lieutenant Colonel Canh emphasized.
The amnesty policy helps offenders reintegrate into society sooner.
On the faces of the pardoned prisoners, joy mixed with remorse was evident. Past mistakes had cost them dearly, but now the door to return home was wide open. In the eyes of those about to return, there was both regret and determination. They understood that behind them was their family, and ahead lay a new path. And the pardon policy had rekindled their hope for an honest life, contributing their small part to the community.
This year, on the occasion of Vietnam's National Day on September 2nd, Lam Dong province has 68 inmates who meet the criteria to be recommended for a presidential pardon. In addition, 618 other inmates currently serving sentences in detention centers nationwide are also recommended for a pardon in this round.
Source: https://baolamdong.vn/viet-lai-trang-moi-cuoc-doi-389261.html
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