MOSCOW, January 29 (RAPSI) – Russian prosecutors believe that investigators ask courts to detain defendants in minor and medium gravity criminal cases far too frequently, a statement released on the official website of the Prosecutor General’s Office reads.

Extension of pre-trial investigations bodies’ practice concerning appliance of non-custodial measures of restraint is needed, according to the news release.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, cooperation between detention centers and courts is to be improved and fostered in order to down the number of detained people.

Up to date, 9 detention facilities included in the Federal Target Program on the Penal System Development (2007-2016) have not been built, the statement reads.

It is also noted that the Prosecutor General’s Office has drafted measures to strengthen the prosecutor's supervision in order to decrease detention over-crowding.