MOSCOW, April 30 (RAPSI) - Russian convicts have been applying for fewer parole hearings while the courts have been granting them less often, according to recent Russian Supreme Court Judicial Department data.

The statistics published on the court’s website indicate that over the previous year, the court held some 142,128 parole hearings while in 2012 there were fewer than 175,000 applications. In 2012, almost 90,000 convicts were released while in 2013 there were 65,200 releases, or 45.9% who were granted parole.

“The 2013 statistics show that the number of parole applications was the lowest since the adoption of the Criminal Code (July 1, 2002). The same applies to the number of paroles granted,” the court statement says.

The Judicial Department also found that in recent years there has been a steady decrease in the number of repeat offences after an early release. There were 50,630 repeat offenders in 2010, which dropped by 4,000 the next year. The figure again dropped in 2013 to 38,500.

The Supreme Court believes that in considering parole applications in 2013, the courts based their rulings on two factors, as laws on parole stipulate, which are that the convict has partially served his sentence and that serving the remainder of the time will not accomplish anything. The amendments requiring indemnification for an early release took effect last January.