A large number of people were imprisoned under the leadership of former President Nicolás Maduro. Since Maduro was captured by US forces and taken to the US to stand trial, the country has appointed new leadership.
At the same time, parliament has passed an amnesty law for many who have been imprisoned under laws that were partly targeted at regime critics.
On Tuesday, MP Jorge Arreaza, who heads the commission on releases under the amnesty law, announced that 179 prisoners had been released.
In addition, 3,000 people who had been released on parole have been fully cleared of crimes.
Arreaza says he has received 4,293 applications for amnesty.
