The Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan's Oliy Majlis has approved a draft law in its first reading that introduces remote video visits for individuals serving sentences in penal institutions. The decision, made during a plenary session on December 17, aims to maintain social ties and support reintegration into society after imprisonment.
The draft law proposes amendments to the Criminal Executive Code, allowing convicts in Ministry of Internal Affairs facilities to conduct remote video visits. The frequency of these visits will depend on the conditions and procedures of their sentences.
The initiative seeks to help convicts sustain family connections and support their rehabilitation. The use of remote video technology aligns with broader government efforts to modernize the penal system, as outlined in a presidential decree from August 2017 and a Cabinet of Ministers resolution from October 2021.
An experimental phase of secure remote video communication was conducted in Penal Colony No. 7 from December 2023 to February 2024. This pilot program used the Prisoline system installed by Inm International. The draft legislation suggests extending this system to all penal facilities under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with costs for online visits to be borne by the prisoners themselves. These visits will take place under the supervision of correctional facility staff.
The proposed law represents a step forward in leveraging technology to balance security requirements with the social and emotional needs of convicts and their families.
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