Penitentiary Department signals risks generated by early-release amendment

The Penitentiary Department signals that the amendment which allows for the early release of seriously ill convicts, regardless of whether they fell ill before or after committing the crimes, bear several risks. Responding to an inquiry by Info-Prim Neo, the Department suggests that some inmates might simulate the aggravation of somatic diseases, or might refuse treatment, aiming for an early release. Another concern is that the criminal groups could use ill persons to commit crimes and escape punishment. The Department proposes that the persons taken into custody, who are about to receive jail sentences, undergo mandatory medical examination to have their health diagnosed as accurately as possible. Minister of Justice Oleg Efrim told reporters that the amendment was proposed due to the fact that the State can barely face the expenses of the permanent care required by the seriously ill inmates. There are 156 people with disabilities of degree I, II and III in the penitentiary system. Ten of them require special care, one of them being actually bedridden. The penitentiary system has no budgetary line for providing disabled people with the equipment necessary for them, such as wheelchairs, and cannot hire nurses that would give these people adequate care. Also, the penitentiary system has no branches for the treatment of patients with incurable diseases.