MOSCOW, September 7 - RAPSI. The number of convicts kept in custody has dropped by more than 150,000 over the past three and a half years, Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov announced Friday.

"The number of individuals kept in the penitentiary system has decreased from 887,500 to 731,500 between January 1, 2009 and June 1, 2012; this is a considerable decrease," said Konovalov.

He also stressed that the crime rate has not noticeably increased.