BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Thursday voted to adopt the revision to the Prison Law.
The major revision, the law's first in three decades, was passed after a third reading at a session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, which runs from Monday to Thursday.
The revised law will take effect on Nov. 1, 2026.
Increasing the number of articles to 121 from 78, the revised law stipulates enhanced supervision by procuratorial agencies over the execution of prison sentences and standardizes prison management in greater detail.
It also includes provisions on the protection of inmates' legitimate rights and interests as well as requirements for prisons, courts and procuratorates to handle commutation and release on parole cases in accordance with the law and in a timely and fair manner.
During Tuesday's deliberations, lawmaker Xian Tieke voiced support for the revision, saying that "it further balances prison security with human rights protection."
The revised law stresses the rehabilitation of the inmates, noting that the prisons' work should focus on turning the offenders into law-abiding citizens and helping them better reintegrate into society after release.
According to Justice Minister He Rong, people's growing aspirations in such aspects as fairness, justice and security, together with the further improvement of institutions and mechanisms for law enforcement and judicial administration, have placed new circumstances and requirements for prison work.
It is therefore necessary to revise the Prison Law to elevate into legal provisions the experiences, practices and mechanisms explored over the past 30 years to ensure that prison work moves forward orderly under the rule of law, she said.
The original law, enacted in 1994 and last amended in 2012, has long played a central role in enforcing penalties, rehabilitating inmates and preventing crime.
The overhaul this time reflects broader changes since 1994, when both China's economy and population were far smaller.
For example, the revised law requires prisons to provide mental health education and, where necessary, psychological counseling, crisis intervention and treatment, with participation from professionals in law, education, psychology and social work sectors.
Juvenile detention facilities must establish psychological treatment units and provide tailored counseling, according to the revision.
Some lawmakers pointed out during deliberations that these provisions were added against the backdrop of the development of psychology in China and the growing number of qualified professionals in the field, thereby making such programs possible.
In 2024, a total of 99 percent of new inmates in China underwent psychological testing, while coverage of mental health education reached 99.9 percent, according to official data. ■
