A raft of new measures outlined in the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) will provide greater assistance to organizations dedicated to helping ex-prisoners rejoin society
On March 24, less than four years after he was released from prison, Zheng Hongjun opened his own fruit store, thanks to the assistance provided by a socially aware businessman, government departments and members of the public.
Zheng, 47, used to own a fish store in eastern China's Anhui province, but in 2010 he was sentenced to two years in prison after he assaulted a supplier who had reneged on a business deal.
During Zheng's time in prison, his wife became ill and died, and when he was released in 2012, he discovered he was unemployable. His life fell apart.
"The experience drove a wedge between my daughter and me; she never thought I would offend, let alone serve a prison sentence," he said.
Zheng returned to his hometown, Jiamusi in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, and began looking for work, but the first six months after his release saw his hopes dashed repeatedly, leaving him frustrated and angry.
"I found several jobs, but my employers always fired me when they found out about my 'bad record'," he said.
Last year, when he was at his lowest ebb, Zheng met Ying Zhanwei, head of China Ex-Convict Aid, in Langfang, Hebei province.
Ying and a number of other entrepreneurs in Langfang run regular businesses, but most of the profits are used to fund socially beneficial activities, such as an employment information platform that contains details of ex-offenders looking for work and homes.
As a result of his interaction with China Ex-Convict Aid, Zheng's life began to get back on track. He is now a volunteer for the organization and helps former convicts to re-establish their lives.
According to statistics supp-lied by the Ministry of Justice, 400,000 to 600,000 inmates are released from China's prisons every year. Thanks to the efforts of organization such as China Ex-Convict Aid, more than 90 percent of them have settled down and found jobs in recent years.
'The golden period'
Criminologists and psychology experts believe that the first six months after release are the "golden period" for ex-convicts. It's the time that determines the success or failure of their rehabilitation, and the best way to stop them reoffending is to provide training that will give them the skills they will need to find work.
He Junjian, president of Chang'an, a magazine that reports on China's legal system, said the path of reintegration should be made as smooth as possible for ex-prisoners to allow them to settle down quickly after their release. However, that will require greater understanding and assistance from society as a whole.
China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), released by the central government earlier this year, highlights the need for more assistance for recently released prisoners.
Wang Jie, founder of China Ex-Convict Aid, which has helped more than 4,000 ex-inmates since it was established in Shanxi province in 2007, said the measures outlined in the plan are good news because they will help former prisoners to ensure that their rights are protected by law.
