NEW DELHI: The home ministry has finalised a comprehensive Model Prisons Act, 2023, aimed at holistic reform of prisons and prison management in line with modern-day needs and with a firm focus on correctional ideology.
Among the salient features of the new Model Prisons Act are a provision for punishment of prisoners and jail staff for use of prohibited items like mobile phones etc in jails; provision of security assessment and segregation of prisoners and individual sentence planning; and provision for the use of technology in prison administration with a view to bringing transparency. The aim of the Model Act is also to protect the society from the criminal activities of hardened criminals and habitual offenders, even as focus is laid on vocational training and skill development of the jail inmates.
The new Model Act, which not only seeks to modernise the 130-year-old Prisons Act but also assimilates updated provisions of the of Prisoners Act and The Transfer of Prisoners Act, is meant to serve as a guiding document for the states to bring matching amendments in their prison laws, with whatever modifications they may consider necessary.
The model law – drafted by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, as per directions of the home ministry – proposes separate accommodation for women prisoners and transgender prisoners in the interest of their safety and well-being. A grievance redressal system for prisoners, a prison development board and an attitudinal change towards prisoners is proposed.
The Model Act provides for video conferencing with the courts and scientific and technological interventions in prisons as part of reforming prison management. It also has a provision for establishment of high-security jails for high-risk prisoners as well as open and semi-open jails for low-risk ones.
Importantly, the Act provides for legal aid to prisoners, apart from encouraging and incentivising good conduct by prisoners through the provision of parole, furlough and premature release etc.
Among the salient features of the new Model Prisons Act are a provision for punishment of prisoners and jail staff for use of prohibited items like mobile phones etc in jails; provision of security assessment and segregation of prisoners and individual sentence planning; and provision for the use of technology in prison administration with a view to bringing transparency. The aim of the Model Act is also to protect the society from the criminal activities of hardened criminals and habitual offenders, even as focus is laid on vocational training and skill development of the jail inmates.
The new Model Act, which not only seeks to modernise the 130-year-old Prisons Act but also assimilates updated provisions of the of Prisoners Act and The Transfer of Prisoners Act, is meant to serve as a guiding document for the states to bring matching amendments in their prison laws, with whatever modifications they may consider necessary.
The model law – drafted by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, as per directions of the home ministry – proposes separate accommodation for women prisoners and transgender prisoners in the interest of their safety and well-being. A grievance redressal system for prisoners, a prison development board and an attitudinal change towards prisoners is proposed.
The Model Act provides for video conferencing with the courts and scientific and technological interventions in prisons as part of reforming prison management. It also has a provision for establishment of high-security jails for high-risk prisoners as well as open and semi-open jails for low-risk ones.
Importantly, the Act provides for legal aid to prisoners, apart from encouraging and incentivising good conduct by prisoners through the provision of parole, furlough and premature release etc.