Jieyang Prison

Jieyang Prison (Chinese: 揭阳监狱; pinyin: Jiēyáng jiānyù) is a prison in Guangdong province, China.[1] It was formerly named as Dongjing Labor Reform Detachment.[2][3] The prison is governed by the Guangdong Prison Administrative Bureau.[4] In 1982 the prison housed around 700 inmates, and in late 1995 the number of inmates was approximately 3,900.[5]

Website

Jieyang Prison has a unique website that was the "first of its kind" in China, which provides information for the public, inmates and the families of inmates.[4][6] In October 2014, the website received over 30,000 requests for inmate information and 270,000 page views.[4] Family members of inmates can access the site using a username and password, and can obtain information about inmate health, prison terms, paroling, sentence reductions and how personal funds are spent in the prison.[4] Reservations for visiting inmates can also be placed using the website.[4]

In April 2014, the prison implemented a video conferencing meeting system that is used for inmates to communicate with relatives who live far from the area or who are too ill to visit in person.[4] The meeting system is coordinated through the prisons website.[4] It is the first such system in China, and was initiated at Jieyang Prison as a pilot program.[4] The meeting system was implemented in part to increase transparency and openness using such technology.[4]

Labor

In 1996, it was reported in the publication "Prison Work Newsletter" published by the Chinese government that garments had been produced at Jieyang Prison for the prior 12 years.[2] The work performed has been described as forced labor, because the inmates are required to do it.[2][5] The garments are sold on the international market.[5] Additional products produced at the prison include watchbands, artificial Christmas trees, mineral water, rosary beads and chinaware.[5] Labor has been subcontracted at the prison from the Jixiang Knitting Garment Factory.[1] It was reported in 1997 that approximately 80% of prison inmates perform the labor.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Varley, Pamela (1998). "The Sweatshop Quandary". Investor Responsibility Research Center. p. 74. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Smith, C.H. (1998). Forced Labor in China: Hearing Before the Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives. Diane Publishing Company. pp. 49–51. ISBN 978-0-7881-7844-3. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  3. ↑ "U.S. implementation of prison labor agreements with China". Volume 4. United States Congress. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. May 21, 1997. pp. 50, 57, 71. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Prison uses video chat as part of transparency drive – Society". chinadaily.com.cn. October 9, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Wu: China is violating jtrade pact". The Des Moines Register. May 22, 1997. p. 7. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  6. ↑ "South China province to put inmate information online – English.news.cn". Xinhua. September 25, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2016.

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