training, welfare and recreation of the pupils. Punishment in institutions - No cases of abuse or maltreatment of persons below the age of eighteen detained in approved schools or the correction centre have been reported since 2003. Heavy penalties are instituted for any staff member of any institution who takes advantage of his position and abuses or maltreats inmates. Failure to provide ‘the necessaries of life’ to persons detained is also a crime under the Penal Code. Reformation, family reintegration and social rehabilitation – The Government, to ensure its citizens (including children) are not kept in custody for unnecessary length of time, has adopted the parole system. There is also an existing one third remissions of custodial sentences. Tanzania does not have specific uniform social reintegration programmes for persons below 18 years who have completed their sentences. In 2002 the Government introduced Cap 291 in the Community Service Act as another alternative to custodial sentencing. This focuses on correction and preventive community strategies. The Law Reform Commission in its recommendation on the Children Act recommended that the diversion system be incorporated into the criminal justice system. To ensure that the probation orders are enforced the LRC recommended provision of voluntary probation services. Some 427 persons under 18 years were sentenced to imprisonment in mainland prisons between 2003 and 2005, most of whom were charged with theft and stealing (please see annex 5, table j). Children of Imprisoned Mothers Article 30 The criminal law provides several non-custodial options to prevent the imprisonment of mothers with dependant children. These include: absolute or conditional discharge, 63