China will finish adjusting its prison layout and form an appropriate and standardized layout by 2010, reports the Hong Kong based Wen Wei Po.

The report says the adjustment of prison layout is progressing steadily now. The central and local governments have invested 4.46 bln yuan for the work.

The prison reform has entered a crucial phase. The reform will focus on making work related to prison legal and scientific and calling for involvement of society, the report of Wen Wei Po cites officials with the Ministry of Justice.

According to officials with the Ministry of Justice, prisons in China are basically located in remote regions far from cities due to needs for preparing for war and principle "not to struggle for profit with the people". Recent years, the "sequela" of their location has emerged. The remote location causes a lot of inconvenience for life of prison management staff and their families. On the other hand, the remote location is not helpful for the prisoners' reconstruction and their families' visit.

There are now about 700 prisons in China; most of them are in remote regions. Since 2002, China has begun to make adjustments to the prison layout. Six provinces including Qinghai, Sichuan and Hunan are selected to carry out the experimental work. The remote prisons will be moved close to central cities and arteries of communication.

By People's Daily Online