In compliance with legal provisions concerning prison management, most criminals are allowed to serve their sentences in the area around their original residence, making it convenient for their family members to visit them and for their former work units to assist in educating them. When the institution disagrees with a judgment, the institution itself may request the People's Procuratorate or the People's Court which made the original judgment to reexamine the case. In order to foster the desire to reform among prisoners, Chinese law contains provisions stipulating a system for reducing sentences and release on parole. All prisoners who qualify, accept reform, and show true repentance or outstanding behaviour during their prison terms may be granted a reduction in their sentence or release on parole in accordance with the law. On the basis of a fixed number of points, those who show a positive attitude towards reform will be awarded additional points and those who show indiscipline or break regulations will have points deducted, with results of additions and deductions of points made public every month.
Prisoners have the right to question or protest their scores.
From the results of assessment and the published scores, the prisoners themselves are aware of the chances for having their sentence reduced or being released on parole. To ensure fair and rational rewards and penalties, strict regulations govern the procedures for reduction of sentence or release on parole. This method of assessment and reward and penalty greatly increases prisoners' desire to reform. In order to reform those criminals who have committed crimes punishable by death but who may still be reformable, China has created a unique system of a death penalty with a two-year reprieve. Criminals who should receive the death penalty but need not be executed immediately can be sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, during which time they are to undergo reform through labour to see if it will be effective.