Parole - incentive for good behavior

Rwanda’s cabinet this week approved parole for 649 prisoners, after they had served a quarter of their sentences. This sure is the best incentive for other prisoners still in custody to behave better. The paroled prisoners have not been given full amnesty, technically meaning, they are still prisoners and their release will be under strict supervision, with zero tolerance to any form of misbehavior. They are not completely off the hook; they still have to prove that they are capable of further reforming, as they get reintegrated into society. This however also serves as an incentive for the more than 2000 applicants who did not qualify for parole this time round, to behave better. All is not lost for them. The country needs more men and women out of prison and contributing to the economic development on which the country has embarked as both part of the labour force and paying taxes.