Serving time from home ( 2003-08-01 11:47) (Agencies)
Xiao Liu, a 21-year-old man sentenced to seven years in prison for auto
theft, was allowed to serve the rest of his sentence in the community where he
lives.
Xiao Liu is one of the first group of offenders benefiting from judicial
reform in Beijing.
China's judicial departments are experimenting with community service in
Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and east China's Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.
Some offenders who show good behavior in prison, or who have received light
sentences, can serve the remainder of their sentence at home after a period of
imprisonment.
At present, only five cases are eligible for community service including
surveillance, probation, release on parole, temporary service out of prison and
deprivation of political rights upon release.
Community service, widely adopted in many countries, had been overlooked in
China as the country exerted emphasis on imprisonment.
"Community service creates an open environment for offenders and helps
motivate them to choose the right track," said Wu Yuhua, director of the Beijing
Judicial Bureau. The adoption of community service also indicates China's
judiciary is in line with international practices.
Living in a more relaxed environment at home, Xiao Liu is more confident
about his future.
"I am still serving my sentence though living at home," he said, after
serving four of his seven years' in prison. Under the program, he has to work at
least ten hours each month.
Xiao Liu has been assigned farm work and cleaning work in a nursing home.
Offenders shifted into community service are allowed to contact people in the
community, but can only live at home. They cannot leave the community without
advance notice. Weekly reports of their life and monthly talks with judicial
workers are required.
Professional judicial workers have been sent to trial districts, ensuring
smooth implementation of community service. They are also expected to help the
police deal with escapes or repeat offenders.
The new judicial practice does not please everyone. Some people question why
offenders are sent back home instead of being confined in prison.
Since the trial program started in Shanghai one year ago, more than 100
offenders completed community service with no repeat
offenders.
