Community service to replace jail time

By Jane Chen | July 13, 2010, Tuesday |

Online Edition

WANG Zuo works as a traffic assistant during rush hours at a road crossing in downtown Ningbo, a city in eastern China's Zhejiang Province.

His good performance could spare him from jail time for his involvement in a fatal traffic accident three months ago when he killed a woman.

Wang is one of 13 who committed offenses benefiting from Ningbo's pilot program of "community service for jail time," today's Legal Weekly reported.

Wang, who had 10 years' safe driving experience, said he truly felt guilty for the accident. He has repeatedly apologized to the victim's family and paid more than 600,000 yuan (US$88,614) in compensation and gained the family's forgiveness.

Beilun District People's Procuratorate Office ordered him to serve in the community before deciding whether to sue him or not, based on his performance.

He tells his own story to warn people about road safety in the police's safe traffic campaign.

"I do like this new assignment," Wang said, "and it gives me a good chance to make up for the guilt I feel."

He said his boss agreed to keep his driver's job for him when he finished his community service.

Another 12 people have been ordered to do community service in the pilot program, which has aroused controversy, the report said.

Some says it gives new hope to those who commit minor crimes, but others argue that laws insist on criminal punishment.

Nation

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Community service to replace jail time

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