From November 15, 2024: What are regulations on the meal rations of inmates in detention facilities in Vietnam?

On September 30, 2024, the Government of Vietnam issued Decree 118/2024/ND-CP detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Vietnamese Criminal Execution Law 2019, which includes regulations on the meal rations for inmates in detention facilities.

Decree 118/2024/ND-CP will take effect from November 15, 2024.

From November 15, 2024: What are regulations on the meal rations of inmates in detention facilities in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 7 of Decree 118/2024/ND-CP, the meal rations for inmates in detention facilities from November 15, 2024, will be as follows on a monthly basis:

- 17 kg of ordinary rice;

- 15 kg of vegetables,

- 01 kg of pork,

- 01 kg of fish;

- 0.5 kg of sugar;

- 0.75 liter of fish sauce;

- 0.2 liter of cooking oil;

- 0.1 kg of monosodium glutamate;

- 0.5 kg of salt;

- Other spices: equivalent to 0.5 kg of ordinary rice;

- Fuel: equivalent to 17 kg of firewood or 15 kg of coal.

The foodstuffs and fuel must ensure quality and have an average price according to the local market rates.

As for the meal policies on holidays and Tet, inmates will be entitled to additional meals following legal provisions and Clause 1 Article 48 of the Vietnamese Criminal Execution Law 2019, To be specific, inmates can receive additional meals, but the level of food should not exceed five times the regular daily standard.

Inmates engaged in labor from the heavy, hazardous, and dangerous occupation list as prescribed by law will receive increased rations, but the overall amount shall not exceed two times the regular daily standard.

Based on the health assurance requirements for inmates during detention, labor, and study periods at the sentence enforcement facility, the head of the detention facility can decide to adjust the rations to suit reality, enabling inmates to consume the full standard.

Beyond the above food standards, inmates can use their own goods and money to purchase additional food, but not more than three times the monthly food rations for each inmate, and must go through the deposit and canteen system serving their needs at the detention facility.

While in detention, inmates are ensured access to sanitary food, beverages, and safe food.

Thus, the meal rations for inmates in detention facilities will cover all daily nutritional needs. On holidays and Tet, inmates will receive additional food, but the level of consumption should not exceed five times the regular daily standard.

Under what conditions are inmates eligible for a reduction in their prison sentence in Vietnam?

According to Clause 1 Article 6 of Joint Circular 02/2013/TTLT-BCA-BQP-TANDTC-VKSNDTC, the conditions for inmates to have their prison term reduced include:

(1) Must have served at least one-third of the sentence term for prison sentences up to thirty years or twelve years for life imprisonment;

(2) Must show significant progress demonstrated by strict adherence to the rules of the detention center, pretrial detention center, or temporary detention house; active participation in study, labor rehabilitation, and must achieve a compliance rating from good upwards throughout sufficient assessment periods, specifically:

- Inmates serving life sentences must have at least four consecutive years immediately before the assessment achieving a rating from good upwards. In cases where the death sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment by the President, at least five consecutive years prior to the assessment must be rated from good upwards;

- Inmates serving between twenty and thirty years must have at least three years and six months from the consecutive period immediately before reduction consideration rated from good upwards;

- Inmates serving between fifteen and twenty years must have at least three consecutive years immediately before reduction consideration rated from good upwards;

- Inmates serving between ten and fifteen years must have at least two consecutive years or eight consecutive quarters immediately before reduction consideration rated from good upwards;

- Inmates serving between five and ten years must have at least one year or four consecutive quarters immediately before reduction consideration rated from good upwards;

- Inmates serving between three and five years must have at least six months or two consecutive quarters immediately before reduction consideration rated from good upwards;

- Inmates serving three years or less must have at least one most recent quarter rated from good upwards.

Thus, for an inmate to have their prison term reduced, they must have served at least one-third of the term for prison sentences of thirty years or less or twelve years for life imprisonment.

Additionally, they must exhibit significant progress, reflected in strictly adhering to the rules of detention facilities, actively participating in educational and rehabilitative labor activities, and consistently achieving a compliance rating from good or higher over many contiguous years.

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