MOSCOW, October 10 - RAPSI. The Federal Penitentiary Service has proposed to allow prisoners to request non-custodial punishment at an earlier stage, a source in the service told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

According to the source, at present prisoners may request parole or more lenient punishment only after they have served half of their prison term. As a result, most prison inmates ask for parole.

"The mitigation of punishment can motivate good conduct in prison. The service has analyzed the current situation and has announced its initiative to the Justice Ministry to allow earlier requests for parole and for lighter punishment," said the source.

He added the proposal is now being considered. RIA Novosti has yet to obtain official confirmation of this news.