Young life behind bars a mix of hope, despair

Education in prison

As reporters arrived at the Beijing center in the morning, a silent line of inmates stood at the entrance of a building. "They are waiting to go to their workshop," Zhu said.

The center has several courses on offer for young offenders, aimed at correction through education, rather than punishment.

Older inmates can learn new skills, such as gardening, IT, spoken English, cooking and sewing, as part of efforts to prepare them for employment in the outside world, said Wang Cong, who is in charge of education at the facility. For under-18s, teachers are invited to give lessons in Chinese, mathematics and English, so they can attempt to keep up with their peers at school.

Inmates watch television in the evenings, they are required to watch the China Central Television news, and they also have access to two basketball courts and a soccer field.

"We don't put handcuffs on offenders when they are in the center, but if they are hospitalized or for any reason are taken outside (the center's walls), they must be handcuffed," Zhu said.

He led the media group to a spacious, square hall on the third floor of a building in section six, where we interviewed Li.

Large, barred doors blocked the entrances at both sides, one of which led to the inmates' living quarters. Chen Donghai, who runs the block, told us that windows are fixed shut, while two cameras are fitted in each room, including the bathrooms.

Hope for the future

After being briefed by the correctional officers, including on what not to ask the inmates, reporters were introduced to Li and Wang Lin, a 25-year-old who has been at the center since 2006.

Wang, who comes from the capital's Shunyi district, was originally sentenced to 14 years for intentional homicide. Due to good behavior while in detention, he will be released early in two years.

The past 12 months have been particularly rough, he said, as both of his parents died after short illnesses.

"My father died suddenly in September last year," he said. His mother passed away in August. "It was unbelievable. The most my father ever had wrong was a sore back, and my mother never got ill."

Displaying no emotion, Wang described how Chen and other officers had taken him to see his father at home for the last time, and allowed him to care for his mother in hospital until she passed away.

"Correction officers talked with me every day, because I just closed my heart after my dad died," he said, shooting a look at Xu Haichao, an officer who was stood nearby. "He (Xu) bought me snacks, especially on holidays.

"I was depressed and had stopped working as hard, but the police officers didn't give up on me."

Xu was unwilling to talk about his role, only to say: "Wang is no different from other offenders here. His attitude and work efficiency during that time (his father's death) was not good. We paid him extra attention, but we didn't allow him to think he was receiving special treatment".

Wang Lin has been studying sewing at the correction center, making bags and quilts, and officers have helped him secure employment in a workshop ahead of his release. The center also successful requested the district government renovate the family home.

However, the inmate said he is still worried about life on the outside.

"Although I've earned three skill certificates, including computers and gardening, I still have no idea about my future," he said, adding that he will take any job the center can arrange.

Li, who has also received training in sewing and other skills, said he shares the same anxiety about being released, which he expects will happen in four years' time.

"My parents told me some of my classmates have already married and bought their own houses or cars, but I can do nothing and I don't know how to melt back into society," he said.

He intends to help his father run a tire business and hopes to get a better job if he gets the chance to study further.

"Like Chen has told me, no one is a hero when they are born," Li added. "I'm scared, but everyone is afraid before they embark on something new."

The names of inmates have been changed on request from the correction center.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn