A draft bill that sets alternative ways for serving prison sentences, including weekend jail and home detention, was passed by the Chamber of Deputies’ Judicial Committee on Monday, April 23.

MPs of the ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) voted for this project, local Hotnews.ro reported. The Chamber of Deputies will vote on this bill on Wednesday.

The bill provides that people with jail convictions under 5 years can serve their sentences at home or by staying incarcerated only in the weekends. This will apply after the convicts serve one fifth of their sentences in normal detention.

The alternative detention won’t apply to people convicted for violent crimes or for some corruption crimes such as bribery and influence peddling, according to the amended form adopted by the Judicial Committee.

The opposition parties have criticized this bill, which was initiated by the National Liberal Party (PNL) but changed significantly by the PSD-ALDE coalition.

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editor@romania-insider.com