Inspection missions have been sent to several jails to ensure preparatory steps for the second amnesty of 2009 are proceeding in line with the law and have found no violations.

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Le The Tiem, Deputy Minister of Public Security and permanent member of the second 2009 Amnesty Council, led a delegation from the Amnesty Advisory Council to inspect two northern prisons on August 5.

At the Ngoc Ly prison in Bac Giang province and Hoang Tien jail in Hai Duong province, the police officer personally inspected the sleeping quarters, canteens, workshops and entertainment places for inmates.

He interviewed some inmates on the list of candidates for amnesty, as well as those not on the list, on the necessary steps undertaken as well as qualifications in considering candidates.

Tiem praised the job done by the two jails in rehabilitating and managing prisoners in the recent past, based on his own inspections, as well as reports delivered by the staffs of the jails themselves.

He also spoke highly of their effective efforts in disseminating the decisions of the State President and his council on the upcoming amnesty to all inmates, thus ensuring the transparency, democracy, equality and justice of the process.

Deputy Director of the Governmental Office Kieu Dinh Thu also led a mission from the Governmental Office to inspect the Ninh Khanh prison in Ninh Binh province and a mission from the Amnesty Advisory Council to Prison 5 in Thanh Hoa province.

On return, Thu and his delegation said both prisons have strictly followed the rules on considering amnesty for their inmates, from making information on the amnesty public to voting for candidates.

He added that the Ninh Khanh prison also has well equipped candidates with knowledge of community integration through courses on road traffic rules, registering residency and applying for personal identity papers.

The prison has also worked with local police on plans to receive and manage released inmates so as to help them avoid relapsing into criminal activity./.