Regimes for inmates under 18 years old in Vietnam

Regimes for inmates under 18 years old in Vietnam (Internet image)

The regimes for inmates who are under 18 years old include:

1. Regime for management, education, study, vocation training, and work of inmates under 18 years old in Vietnam

- A minor inmate shall be incarcerated under a separate regime suitable for his/her health, gender and personal characteristics.

- Prisons shall provide academic education, legal knowledge and vocation training for minor inmates suitable for their age, educational level, gender and health, and make necessary preparations for them to re-integrate into the community after they completely serve their full prison sentences. Prisons shall universalize primary and lower secondary education for every inmate. Primary education is compulsory to inmates who have not finished their primary education programs.

Learning and vocational training programs for minor inmates shall be regulated by the Government.

- Minor inmates are entitled to work in separate areas suitable for their age and exempt from doing heavy, dangerous jobs or jobs with exposure to toxic substances.

(Article 74 of the Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments 2019)

2. Regime for board, clothing, healthcare, cultural and performance activities, entertainment of inmates under 18 years old in Vietnam

- Inmates who are under 18 years old are guaranteed to eat food and get medical care like inmates who are over 18 years old and are allowed to add meat and fish but not more than 20% of the quantity.

- In addition to the standard of clothing and personal belongings provided to inmates over the age of 18, inmates under the age of 18 are provided with an additional 800 ml of shampoo/year, 1 set of long clothes/year, 1 solid helmet or hat/year, 1 cloth hat/year, and 1 warm coat + 02 pairs of socks + 1 beanie used for 1 year (issued from Thua Thien Hue province to the north and 05 provinces of the Central Highlands; the remaining provinces and

- Inmates who are under 18 years old are provided with 1 blanket every 2 years (from Thua Thien Hue province to the North and 5 provinces of the Central Highlands, cotton blankets with covers weighing no more than 02 kg; the remaining provinces and cities under the Central Government will provide yarn blankets) of the standard granted at point 1 clause 1 Article 8 of Decree 133/2020/ND-CP.

-  Duration and methods of organization of physical training and sports, cultural and performance activities, listening to radio, reading books and newspaper, watching television and other entertainment shall be provided in conformity with characteristics of minors.

(Article 75 of the Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments 2019, Article 11 of Decree 133/2020/ND-CP)

3. Regime for visits of and communication with relatives of inmates under 18 years old in Vietnam

- Minor inmates may meet their relatives up to 3 times a month for no more than 3 hours.

- According to the inmate’s performance grade and requirements for education and rehabilitation, working and study achievements of inmates, the superintendent of prison shall consider granting extension of the visit duration but not exceeding 24 hours.

- Minor inmates who are commended may meet their relatives one more time in 1 month.

- Minor inmates may have domestic telephone conversations with their relatives 4 times a month for not more than 10 minutes each, under supervision of the prison officers and at their own expenses.

- The state encourages relatives of minor inmates to send them books, school supplies, sporting and recreation equipment.

(Article 76 of the Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments 2019)

Diem My

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