 The facilities have been widely criticized for the physical abuse that is said to go on within them . Corporal punishment is commonly used , and torture and physical abuse are also thought to be widespread in the facilities . In April 2003 , Zhang Bin , an inmate at the re @-@ education facility <unk> City Correctional Camp , was beaten to death , reportedly by other inmates and by the labor supervisor . Zhang 's death , along with the March 2003 death of inmate Sun <unk> in a custody and repatriation prison , sparked calls within China for reform of the system , although reforms were not made immediately . 
