Judges in the Russian Federation have begun sentencing petty offenders to community service as an alternative to prison in a pilot project aimed at exploring ways to relieve overcrowding in the country’s dilapidated prison system. (3-JULY-2002)
With the support of the Justice ministry, judges in two regions, Tomsk in Siberia and Ryazan in western the Russian Federation, have meted out community service to 24 first-time offenders convicted for hooliganism or other petty crimes, said Victoria Sergeyeva of the British-based Penal Reform International, which is sponsoring the project. “his is for people who don´ represent any threat to society” she said. The alternative sentences could include sweeping streets, cleaning courtyards, or painting bus stops. Plans are underway to expand the project into six other regions this year.
