Nghi Kim Detention Center before the amnesty.

(Baonghean)On the occasion of this year's National Day on September 2nd, Nghi Kim Detention Center has 35 inmates who have been granted early amnesty. Thanks to the humane policies of the Party and the State, the efforts, training, and self-improvement of these inmates have been recognized. Currently, preparations for the amnesty at Nghi Kim Detention Center are basically complete.

I arrived at Nghi Kim Detention Center in mid-July, during the Vu Lan festival. Captain Tran Xuan Thang, the center's education officer, led me through narrow corridors to the door of a cell. None of the inmates were aware of our presence, even though they were only a few arm lengths from the wide-open door. They were all focused on the television, constantly discussing the program being broadcast. Their rough faces no longer showed any signs of cunning or gloom. Instead, they were open and lively, as if they had never known the meaning of "prison." Captain Tran Xuan Thang explained that, except for the solitary confinement cells, every cell at Nghi Kim Detention Center had a television and newspapers. Some inmates had never seen a newspaper or a television news broadcast before entering the center, but that had changed since their arrival. Watching television and reading newspapers are also ways for inmates to engage with life, enhance their understanding, change their behavior, and meet the necessary conditions before reintegrating into the community.

Captain Tran Xuan Thang imparts knowledge and skills to the trainees.
Granted amnesty on September 2nd, 2013.

In another section of Nghi Kim Detention Center, Captain Tran Xuan Thang led me to the classroom and the students he was in charge of. It was a course for inmates granted amnesty on the occasion of this year's National Day on September 2nd. The 35 pardoned individuals represented 35 different lives, 35 different fates, and 35 different types of crimes. They only shared one thing in common: an awareness of their past crimes and a relentless commitment to self-improvement and correction to be present in this class. The class aimed to enhance the inmates' knowledge and skills before reintegrating into society. I sat down next to the only woman in the class, who was still engrossed in taking notes on the "National Program for Building New Rural Areas."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Nga – the only female inmate granted amnesty this year at Nghi Kim Detention Center – smoothed a lock of long hair across her cheek and said, “This is one of the contents and knowledge from the training course for officers!” Before each amnesty or sentence reduction, prisons organize training courses for inmates. The program focuses on three main themes: moral education, legal education, and life skills education. This includes topics such as maintaining social order and safety, traffic safety, the Law on Residence, job-seeking skills, and community reintegration. In particular, the course also provides information on major policies of the Party and State, the socio-economic situation of the province, and the specific characteristics of each locality. Based on this, when returning to the community, the trainees will not be surprised and will have appropriate behaviors.

Nghi Kim Detention Center currently holds, manages, and educates 155 inmates of various types. And 35 inmates have been recommended for amnesty this year, the oldest being 55 and the youngest 20. Inmate Nguyen Thi Hong Nga was prosecuted and tried for the crime of abusing trust to misappropriate citizens' property. After nearly two years of rehabilitation and education, with her efforts and self-improvement during her sentence, Nga is on the verge of returning to her family. There, she has a warm home with obedient children waiting for their mother's return. Unable to hide the tears rolling down her cheeks, Hong Nga sobbed: "I only hope my children will forgive my mistakes." Indeed! Inmates may benefit from the lenient policies of the Party and the State, and be forgiven by society, but mothers and fathers will find it difficult to escape the guilt of their children's misguided lives.

Nguyen Ba Lung is no longer the dignified director he was more than five years ago. The title "Boss Lung" remains a haunting memory for him. A 42-month prison sentence for fraud and embezzlement has undoubtedly been a costly lesson for Nguyen Ba Lung, now just over 50 years old. Gone is the cunning of the director of yesteryear; today's Nguyen Ba Lung is more open: "Outside, I tightened the wrong threads, so here I tighten them correctly, sir! I only feel sorry for my hardworking wife who has never had a single day of complete happiness." There are still many opportunities for those who know how to correct their mistakes. "The important thing is that they have realized it," said Lieutenant Colonel Tran Thang Long, Superintendent of Nghi Kim Detention Center.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Tran Thang Long, before finalizing the list of 35 prisoners recommended for presidential pardon, Nghi Kim Detention Center publicly posted the policy and criteria for pardon in the cells. The pardon list, in addition to being based on the monthly and quarterly evaluations and rankings of the Center, was also voted on by the prisoners. Activities such as education, issuance of identity cards, letters of introduction, and travel permits were all carried out simultaneously.

Furthermore, unlike previous amnesties and sentence reductions, this time, to provide the best possible conditions for inmates before their release, Nghi Kim Detention Center is measuring and purchasing clothing according to size. This avoids the previous situation where some inmates were in too tight clothing while others were in too loose clothing. This small detail has a significant encouraging effect on those on the verge of returning to being citizens. Transportation, food, and other travel expenses have also been carefully calculated by the Center to ensure everyone can return home as smoothly as possible. Preparations for the amnesty at Nghi Kim Detention Center are complete. Everything is ready, just waiting for the announcement of the decision. We hope for good things to come after these past mistakes.

Dao Tuan