A1plus

| 18:32:59 | 24-05-2005 | Social |

BETTER IN PRISON THAN FREE

The investigations showed that70% of the discharged prisoners commit a
second offense. The reason for it is the absence of job, attitude of the
society and the relatives.

Law and Right public organization with the financial assistance of Hayastan
Foundation are carrying out a special program for those, who leave jails. It
turns out that the former prisoners have more problems when set free. To be
more precise the problems emerge several months before the discharge. If the
police finds out that the prisoner has no permanent residence the
imprisonment term is prolonged for an uncertain period.

During today’s press conference the organization members noted that the
Justice Ministry should seriously proceed to the problem as it concerns
criminals under age as well.

Former chief of the security department Ashot Grigoryan considers that
keeping a man in prison only because he has no place to leave is the
violation of human rights. He is also indignant at the fact that the former
prisoners are under the permanent watch of the police.

Thus the former prisoner should be at home no later than 8 p.m. during three
years after the discharge. Such attitude become the reason for a second
offense.