The Cabinet has passed a proposal of amnesty for imprisoned criminals convicted of light and medium crimes, partial pardoning and reduction of sentences. The amnesty means to reduce the number of petty crime cases being heard in the judicial system, which result in administrative punishment, Justice Minister Miglena Tacheva said in a media statement.

The amnesty will to anyone sentenced for petty crimes before July 1 2008 and serving sentences of up to three years in prison for committing a willful crime, as well as those serving sentences of up to five years for having committed a crime due to negligence.

The amnesty will not be applicable to sentences handed out for crimes perpetrated under the influence of alcohol or assaults that resulted in grievous bodily harm (GBH) or death.

One possible solution to reduce the number of people in Bulgaria's overpopulated prisons is to incorporate fines of up to 5000 leva for petty crimes or GBH third class into the country's Penal Code.

The amnesty bill was prepared by a task force set up by Miglena Tacheva, and coincides with the 130th anniversary of the Ministry of Justice, in 2009. It will be worked on in corroboration with the Prosecution, the Supreme Court and all other institution involved in the justice department and the punitive codex, as well as the national police.

Should it be passed, the bill would affect around 3300 people. The greater impact however will be felt upon the legislative branch, the courts and the prosecution, who will be relieved of tons of administrative work and red tape, as they will not longer deal with perpetrations resulting only in administrative sentencing.

“The Justice Minister is obliged to create adequate conditions for work for the judicial system, and I am convinced that this new refined legislation will create just that,” Tacheva said. Furthermore, it would make institutions more effective when dealing with the truly serious crimes, including organised crime, violence, corruption and murder.