The Chamber of Deputies decided on Wednesday, June 6, that people who get jail convictions of up to one year for non-violent crimes will be allowed to serve their sentences under house arrest.

The Chamber of Deputies adopted a series of changes to the law on serving convictions, local Mediafax reported. Another amendment allows people who get prison sentences between 3 and 13 years for non-violent crimes to serve them in a semi-open regime, which allows free movement within the penitentiary during the day. Inmates who serve their sentences in a semi-open regime can also work and engage in educational, cultural and therapeutic activities in prison. The semi-open regime is now only granted to convicts with sentences of up to 3 years.

The deputies also decided that writing scientific papers while in jail will help inmates get 20 days deducted of their sentence, for each such paper. This facility was abolished only few years ago after many high-profile detainees managed to get out of jail earlier after publishing books while in prison.

The changes voted by the Chamber of Deputies will now go to president Klaus Iohannis for promulgation.

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