Open Jail will open in the State | Uttar Pradesh | 17 Jun 2023

Why in News?

On June 15, 2023, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during a review of the Prisons Department, said that prisons should be set up as 'Penitentiary'. At the same time, he also directed to prepare a formal proposal for the establishment of open jail.

Key Points:

• The Chief Minister said that the establishment of open jail can be useful. At present, a semi-open jail is operational in Lucknow. Prepare a formal proposal for the establishment of an open jail.
• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed to make strict punishment rules for the use of mobile phones in jails. At the same time, he has instructed to set up high-security barracks for intensive monitoring of notorious terrorists and vicious criminals.
• The Chief Minister said that a new Prison Act should be prepared and implemented in the state. Presently the Prisons Act, 1894 and the Prisoners Act, 1900 are in vogue since pre-independence. There is a need to implement a new act in view of the future.
• He said that the Government of India has recently prepared the Model Prison Act, 2023. It is very useful from the point of view of reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners. According to this, a new Prison Act of the state should be prepared.
• The cabinet has recently approved the new jail manual. Arrangements like security assessment of prisoners, grievance redressal, Prison Development Board, change in behaviour towards prisoners and provision of separate accommodation for women prisoners & transgender etc. should be implemented.
• He said that in order to encourage good conduct in jail, the prisoners should get the benefit of legal aid, parole and premature release. There should be a provision for this in the new act.
• The Chief Minister said that the entry and exit of prisoners are being done through e-prison. Prisoners' Information Management System, Visitor Management System, E-custody Certificate, and Police Intelligence System are also implemented. There are more than 4200 CCTVs installed in the jails, which are monitored through video walls installed at the headquarters. He said that monitoring should be done by integrating drone cameras with video walls.