THE JUSTICE Ministry plans to earmark Sk50 million this year (€1.3 million) to improve conditions for people held in pre-trial custody, in keeping with new legislation that takes effect on July 1.
"The law is designed to humanize pre-trial custody conditions in order to distinguish those who have merely been accused from those who have been convicted and sentenced to prison. Custody is intended to hold the accused for the purposes of prosecution, not to punish them," the Justice Ministry said for the Pravda daily.
As of July, people in custody will be entitled to participate in educational and sports activities.
