Productive Labor and Thought Reform in Chinese Corrections: A Historical and Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The Chinese practice of productive labor and thought reform in correctional institutions is rooted in Chinese history and culture. It bears influence and reinforcement from the Western prison model of reform and rehabilitation introduced to China at the turn of the 20th century. However, it was not until the communist era that productive labor and thought reform were systematically instituted with a unified ideology and a military-style organization. This article examines productive labor and thought reform in terms of its history, rationale, process, and consequence. From a historical and comparative perspective, it shows what reference they may offer to Western corrections and how they may evolve with the open-up and reform policy in China.

Corrections and Punishment in China: Information and Analysis

“…Education, labor, and rehabilitation are also major themes in the heartland of capitalist corrections. In other words, China is nowhere out of history or away from the world when it adheres to labor and education as two guiding principles in its penal practice (Beijing Municipal Bureau of Prisons, 2009;Dutton, 1992;Editorial Board, 1986;Li, 2009;Ministry of Justice, 2007;Shaw, 1998;Williams & Wu, 2006;Xu, 1995;Zhao, 2009).…”

“…Although justice scholars refer to Western practices and the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners adopted by the First United Nations Congress in 1955, they apparently follow more of their Chinese history where labor was used as punishment, mind-toughening measure, and thought-reform mechanism (Editorial Board, 1986;Li, 2009;Ministry of Justice, 2007;Shaw, 1998;Williams & Wu, 2006;Xu, 1995;.…”

“…For example, of the 353,182 inmates released in 2006, only 6,112 or 1.7% were charged with new crimes (Ministry of Justice, 2007). Even in long term, justice officials and scholars can still contentedly boast of the 6.0 to 8.0% of recidivism China has enjoyed over the years in comparison with the higher than 40.0% rate in some Western countries (Li, 2009;Ministry of Justice, 2009;Shaw, 1998;Zhao, 2009). …”

“…In 1951, the Minister of Public Security made a special report to the Communist Party, pledging to organize a million criminals for productive labor. More than anything else, labor was placed in the center of corrections and punishment in socialist China (Dutton, 1992;Shaw, 1998;Wu, 1992;.…”

A critical review of past studies on China’s corrections and recidivism

“…In another example, Shaw [43] focused on two key components of China's system, i.e., productive labor and thought reform. Though borrowed heavily from the Western practice of work disciplines and religious education in prisons, China's system integrates both elements, and productive labor is designed, not to make the institution self-sufficient or generate any profits, but as a vehicle through which thought reform can be effectively carried out.…”