China to further standardize commutation, parole

China is stepping up efforts to build an online platform to further standardize the commutation of sentences and granting of parole, Chief Justice Zhou Qiang said Friday.

Zhou made the remarks at a conference about building the platform.

Courts across the country are expected to share information of all cases online to make trials open, transparent, standardized and efficient, Zhou said at the conference held in Hefei City in east China's Anhui Province.

The move aims to tighten the "cage of regulations and data" and prevent judicial corruption, he said.

On Jan. 1, a new regulation went into effect setting stricter limits on the use of commutation and parole for those who have committed duty crimes, mafia-style crime and financial crimes, as well as those convicted of severely threatening national security and terrorist activities.

"Problems have come to light in commutation, parole, or temporary release in recent years, including some that have enabled a few people with money or power to serve shorter prison terms," said Xia Daohu with the Supreme People's Court at a press conference in November last year.

China sees around 600,000 commutation and parole cases on average each year. Corruption in granting commutation and parole has caused great damage to the judicial system as well as the public's faith in justice, he said. Endi