Special amnesty to set many minors free

Prison inmates who were sentenced when they were minors will make up a large number of prisoners to be granted freedom under a special amnesty, a judicial official with the Supreme People's Court said on Monday.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress adopted the amnesty deal on Saturday after a weeklong discussion, granting pardons to four types of prisoners. Of the four categories, minors will account for many of those granted amnesty, said Hu Weixin, deputy director of the research department at the top court.

The deal, marking the 70th anniversary of China's victory in World War II, targets juvenile prisoners who committed their crimes while under the age of 18 and were sentenced to less than three years in prison.