The granting of amnesty to prisoners demonstrates the Party and State’s policy of humanity and clemency for those who have showed repentance and undergone a comprehensive re-education, said Deputy PM Truong Vinh Trong.
Trong, who is head of the amnesty advisory council, said that following careful consideration, the council has agreed on a list of more than 17,000 prisoners to be submitted to the State President for clemency, to mark the nation’s National Day (Sept. 2).
Of those prisoners, 27 hold foreign nationalities and 30 other offenders had been convicted on the charge of ‘infringing upon national security’ or others relating to national security, said Trong in an interview carried by the Nhan Dan (People’s) daily on August 23.
More prisoners are being considered for amnesty this year than ever before, as the council has supplemented the criteria for eligible applicants, including those who have committed economic and position-related crimes and have fulfilled their civil obligations by paying compensation and having their illegal assets seized.
Offenders who are the beneficiaries of social policies, old people, persons with fatal diseases and women still breast feeding babies are also to be considered if they have already served at least one quarter of their sentences.
According to the deputy PM, the Party and State’s humanitarian policy is also shown in their efforts to make it easier for people who have received amnesty to re-integrate back into community.
The government has also requested the Ministry of Public Security to provide courses in vocational training and social knowledge for people who are to be released. Local authorities have also been directed not to discriminate against former prisoners when carrying out social polices such as job placements and the provision of loans for business, hunger eradication and poverty reduction.
Since 1990, the State has granted amnesty 10 times, releasing ahead of time around 114,910 prisoners. Only 4 percent of those freed have re-offended. In 2009 the figure was 1.7 percent./.
Trong, who is head of the amnesty advisory council, said that following careful consideration, the council has agreed on a list of more than 17,000 prisoners to be submitted to the State President for clemency, to mark the nation’s National Day (Sept. 2).
Of those prisoners, 27 hold foreign nationalities and 30 other offenders had been convicted on the charge of ‘infringing upon national security’ or others relating to national security, said Trong in an interview carried by the Nhan Dan (People’s) daily on August 23.
More prisoners are being considered for amnesty this year than ever before, as the council has supplemented the criteria for eligible applicants, including those who have committed economic and position-related crimes and have fulfilled their civil obligations by paying compensation and having their illegal assets seized.
Offenders who are the beneficiaries of social policies, old people, persons with fatal diseases and women still breast feeding babies are also to be considered if they have already served at least one quarter of their sentences.
According to the deputy PM, the Party and State’s humanitarian policy is also shown in their efforts to make it easier for people who have received amnesty to re-integrate back into community.
The government has also requested the Ministry of Public Security to provide courses in vocational training and social knowledge for people who are to be released. Local authorities have also been directed not to discriminate against former prisoners when carrying out social polices such as job placements and the provision of loans for business, hunger eradication and poverty reduction.
Since 1990, the State has granted amnesty 10 times, releasing ahead of time around 114,910 prisoners. Only 4 percent of those freed have re-offended. In 2009 the figure was 1.7 percent./.
