Hyderabad, Sep 02: The state government has prepared a draft bill which will provide an opportunity to convicts to undertake community service in lieu of their imprisonment term, Information Minister S Chandramohan Raddy today said. "The draft bill titled 'Andhra Pradesh Community Services Offenders Act' and cleared by the state cabinet, has provisions for convicts above the age of 18 to opt for community service ranging from 40 to 40,000 hours depending on their imprisonment term," Reddy said.

"This system of community service by convicts is in practice in UK, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Canada, Fiji, Hong Kong and Kenya", Reddy said adding that the bill is likely to be passed by state assembly in the ensuing monsoon session. The bill is a result of the international workshop conducted by state government recently in which experts on prison reforms from various countries participated, he said.

Bureau Report