NA adopts Law on Transfer of Sentenced Persons

The law comprising four chapters and 48 articles will enter into force on July 1, 2026.

Before the vote, Chairman of the NA Committee for Legal and Judicial Affairs Hoang Thanh Tung presented the report on revisions to the draft law.

Regarding the conversion of prison sentences (Article 25), some deputies suggested reconsidering the provisions in Clause 5, Article 25 of the draft law.

The NA Standing Committee noted that converting a prison sentence is a complex matter that directly affects the rights of individuals serving sentences, while Vietnam’s criminal justice policies differ significantly from those of other countries.

Therefore, to ensure that the provisions of the law are feasible, stable and convenient for the reality and align with the requirement to modernize the lawmaking approach, Clause 5 in Article 25 defines the Minister of Public Security, in coordination with the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court and the Procurator General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, to detail this article.

The Law on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons also designates the Ministry of Public Security as the Central Authority of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam responsible for the transfer of sentenced persons.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Public Security serves as the focal point for exchanging information and documents; preparing, sending and receiving transfer requests; leading and coordinating with ministries, sectors and localities in reviewing and handling transfer requests; and monitoring and pushing the implementation of transfers.

Regarding costs of the transfer of sentenced persons, the law says that, in case of Vietnam as the transferring country, Vietnam shall bear all expenses arising in connection with the transfer up to the time the sentenced person is handed over, unless otherwise agreed. Where Vietnam is the receiving country, Vietnam shall bear all expenses arising from the time of reception of the sentenced person(s), unless otherwise agreed.