Offenders get wider re-education
( 2003-08-19 10:13) (China Daily)
People undergoing re-education through labour in Beijing Monday began to be
allowed to go to factories, schools and villages for re-education, instead of
only at so-called control offices.
The system of re-education through labour is a form of administrative
punishment for offenders whose offences are not serious enough for criminal
prosecution. The system was officially established in 1957 when the National
People's Congress Standing Committee approved the Decision on Re-education
Through Labour.
Wang Haitao, an official with the Beijing Municipal Management Bureau for
Re-education through Labour, said of the latest development: "It is a new
measure adopted by the authorities to let those people undergoing re-education
who behave well in control offices to be re-educated through normal work,
studies or agricultural production." Some people at schools of re-education and
rehabilitation will be permitted to go back home on holiday to stay with their
families, Wang said.
At present, those undergoing re-education can shop freely at supermarkets in
the rehabilitation schools and they have a choice of meals, which is totally
different from the situation of prison inmates, according to Wang.
Cases of re-education through labour are examined and approved by special
administrative committees under the relevant local government. Once a decision
is made, a re-education notice will be issued to the person concerned, his or
her family and employer. The person can appeal to the organ that issued the
notice and, if this appeal fails, can then appeal to a similar organ at a higher
level or else to sue the committee in court.
Most people undergoing re-education have to stay in a reformatory for between
one year and three years.
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