Zhai Jun could hardly hold back his tears before his parents, who came to take him home for the imminent traditional Spring Festival -- the first time since he was imprisoned a decade ago.

"I will try my best to be a good, filial son during the parole," said Zhai, a serving inmate in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The regional prison authority has granted 150 inmates permission to spend the seven-day festival parol at home during the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year that falls on Jan. 29.

The 150 have been registered for their decent behaviors behind bars and were given the family-reunion preferency as an reward, sources with the regional prison authority said.

China launched a home-visiting mechanism for inmates in 1985. The Prison Law and inmate reeducation schemes enables inmates to apply for a parole of three to seven days during major Chinese holidays.

Ningxia implemented the family reunion policy four years ago. All those inmates subjected to preferential treatment have returned to prisons on time, with still better performance during their remaining days behind the bar, officials recalled.

The Lunar New Year, traditionally a cherished time for family reunions, is taken as the prime occasion in Chinese culture for people to enjoy affections among family members.

Prison administration in Shanghai also granted the special treatment for a number of inmates recently.

"With home-visiting, which differs from families visiting the prison, inmates can feel the familial bond and warmth with their near and dear ones. It lends a humane touch to their reeducation," said a police officer surnamed Cai with the prison Administration.

Earlier this month, the Beijing Women's Prison announced that 12 inmates would be permitted to spend their traditional Chinese festival with their husbands in specially prepared private rooms for 24 hours.

Prison Law provides family-visit rights for prisoners, but does not specify what form visits and paroles should take, which means that inmates are able to make their own rules and regulations, said Xu Xiuchang, the publicity chief of Beijing Prison Administration.

Prison management constitutes a part of building a harmonious society, Xu acknowledged, saying that the recent moves taken by Chinese prisons indicate more scientific, effective and humane approaches for criminals recreational work.
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(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2006)