Kazakhstan Proposes Allowing Smartphones for Convicts in Minimum-Security Facilities

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has published a draft proposal on the "Open NPA" (Legal Acts) portal aimed at reforming the legal status and living conditions of convicts. The document suggests allowing individuals serving sentences in minimum-security facilities to use smartphones outside the premises.

The proposed changes specifically target settlement colonies (colony-settlements). Key initiatives within the project include:

• Smartphone Usage: Permitting convicts to use smartphones while outside the facility (e.g., during work or approved outings).
• "Quiet Hour": Introducing a dedicated rest period for convicts who have reached the third positive degree of behavior.
• Digital Terminals: Implementing a system where requests for visits or city leave are submitted via digital terminals. This measure is specifically designed to minimize direct contact with staff and reduce corruption risks.

The draft will remain open for public discussion until March 11.

It is important to note that minimum-security facilities house individuals convicted of crimes committed through negligence or those sentenced for the first time for minor offenses. These institutions have a low level of isolation; currently, convicts are allowed to wear civilian clothes, live with their families, and work at various enterprises outside the colony grounds.