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Excerpts from the JRL E-Mail Community :: Founded and Edited by David Johnson
#8 - JRL 2008-226 - JRL Home
Medvedev opposes custody for minor crimes

MOSCOW. Dec 15 (Interfax) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he thinks that one should look into the issue of humanizing the legislation in order to reduce the number of instances when a person is taken into custody for minor crimes.

"The practice of taking [a person] into custody for minor crimes is widespread in our country," Medvedev told a meeting with Russia's Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Lukin.

Such practice evokes a number of negative consequences: "the further socialization of a convict takes a very long time," the president said.

"We need to not only humanize punishment but also look at how the system of responsibility for minor crimes, which does not presuppose taking into custody, could be built," he said.

The issue is about not only changing the legislation but also technical aspects. "Restriction of freedom should not necessarily be linked to imprisonment. Other countries resort to such a means as the presence in a certain place," he said, noting that there are technical means for this, including special bracelets.

"Both technical and legal issues should be looked into," Medvedev said, calling on Lukin to take part in this work.