Uzbekistan Strengthens Measures for the Rehabilitation of Convicts and Crime Prevention

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 4 September 2025, the Senate of the Oliy Majlis held its tenth plenary session, during which the Law “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan” was reviewed and approved.

The law aims to enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitative work with convicts serving sentences in correctional facilities, strengthen their ties with family and society, foster law-abiding behavior, promote moral and spiritual values, and encourage reading.

Amendments have been made to the Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and Penal Enforcement Code, introducing the possibility of reducing sentences for convicts who demonstrate genuine reform.

Specifically, the Criminal Code has been supplemented with Article 74¹, which stipulates that for each book from the list approved by the Republican Center for Spirituality and Enlightenment—designed to foster moral and ethical values—a sentence may be reduced by three days, up to a maximum of 30 days per year. This provision applies only to those eligible for parole, excluding life-sentenced convicts.

These changes will affect more than 13,500 convicts serving sentences in penal institutions.

The law also clarifies provisions of the Law “On the Prevention of Offenses,” defining criteria for placing individuals on preventive records based on the degree of public danger and the nature of the offense.

A separate category is established for preventive registration of individuals deprived of driving privileges due to road hooliganism or driving under the influence. In 2024, nearly 11,000 such drivers committed 23,582 traffic violations, resulting in 1,019 accidents with 295 fatalities and 873 injuries.

To increase efficiency in this area, a practice is introduced whereby preventive inspectors collaborate with road patrol officers to identify and prevent offenses at an early stage.

Senators emphasized that the adopted law will support the rehabilitation of convicts, strengthen respect for laws, societal rules, and traditions, and enhance crime prevention and law enforcement efforts.