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Female prisoners set for a steamy New Year
By Guan Xiaofeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-01-09 05:40
Twelve female prisoners in the Beijing Women's Prison will be able to spend a
whole day with their husbands in specially prepared private rooms this Spring
Festival.
A Beijing News report said yesterday it is the first time the prison has
arranged "live-together" visits for its prisoners and their spouses.
In the past, visits from family members usually lasted for a few hours and
took place in special meeting rooms.
This Chinese New Year, the women will stay with their husbands for 24 hours
in standard guest rooms provided by the prison on the first or second day of the
holiday.
The prison has set up a two-storey building for the reunion. It has 12
standard guest apartments, with separate bathrooms, double beds and other
necessary facilities for the special day.
The Beijing News quoted a prison official as saying that they would select
one woman with excellent behaviour from each of the prison's 12 units.
The prison authorities are now sorting out the criteria for the selection
process and have begun to accept applications from prisoners.
The prison will also provide free banquets for prisoners during which they
can meet family members during Spring Festival.
Located in Daxing County near Beijing, the prison is the only one in the city
for women. According to Xinhua, it has more than 900 prisoners.
Among them, 41 per cent committed economic crimes, 25 per cent committed
violent crimes and 7.9 per cent committed drug-related crimes. Some of them have
degrees.
In November, the prison held a quiz on AIDS knowledge for prisoners to
promote awareness.
(China Daily 01/09/2006 page3)
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