Home Department

INTRODUCTION

Prisons form part of the criminal justice system functioning under the State Government. Being a part of the criminal justice system, a Prison has a formal organization and specified functions to perform. The main objective of prison Department is not only to confine the prisoners and deter them from committing offences but also to reform, rehabilitate and resocialise them so that they can freely mingle with the society after the release and become useful citizens. With this objective, a number of job oriented vocational courses, Yoga and meditation classes are conducted to help prisoners to cope with individual needs, social obligations and family responsibilities.

In order to improve the living conditions of prisoners upgrade the prisons and improve the infrastructure facilities in Prisons while making them also highly secure, Government have invested a substantial amount of money under the scheme of Modernization.

2. The Prison Department consists of a total of 134 prisons. These include 9 Central Prisons, 2 Special Prison for Women and 104 men and 9 Women Sub Jail, 4 Special Sub Jails for men and 3 Special Sub Jails for Women and One Open Air Prison, One Farm Jail and One Borstal School. The Department is headed by a senior IPS Officer in the rank of Additional Director General of Police. He is assisted by 4 Deputy Inspectors General of Prisons one each for Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Madurai Ranges and one Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (Headquarters) in the Chief Office. Superintendent of Prisons control the administration of Central Prisons and Sub Jails under their jurisdiction. The cadre strength of Prison Department is 4349. The total authorised accommodation of all Prisons is 18302.

3. Apart from two Special Prisons for Women at Trichy and Vellore which are exclusively manned by women staff, the Government have declared the following 9 Sub Jails and 3 Special Sub Jails as women jails for confining women Prisoners to be handled by female staff.

1. Sub Jail, Villupuram

2. Sub Jail, Krishnagiri

3. Sub Jail,Tiruvarur

4. Sub Jail,Nilakottai

5. Sub Jail, Paramakudi

6. Sub Jail, Thuckalay

7. Sub Jail,Sathur

8. Sub Jail, Coonoor

9. Sub Jail, Saidapet

10. Special Sub Jail, Salem

11. Special Sub Jail, Kokkirakulam

12. Special Sub Jail, Trichy

4. An Open Air Prison with a capacity to accommodate 100 prisoners is functioning at Singanallur, Coimbatore District. Training is imparted to the prisoners in modern methods of agriculture in this Open Air Prison. One farm jail with a capacity of 10 is also available at Salem.

Borstal School, Pudukkottai

5. The adolescent prisoners in the age group of 16-21 years are kept in this school. They are given Borstal treatment with emphasis on education and vocational training, which would be helpful in rehabilitating them and enabling them to manage their lives after release from detention.

6. The probation wing of Prison Department consists of 96 Probation officers and 12 Regional probation officers headed by a Chief Probation Superintendent. The Probation officers make enquiries for court regarding the behaviour pattern of the offenders and their living conditions. They also supervise the offenders released on probation and attend to their rehabilitation.

During the year 2003, the number of enquiries made by the Probation Officers for the court were 5015 preliminaries and 10670 other enquiries. They have also made visits to 28545 Probationers and 8354 others. The numbers of After care reports submitted in the year were 28201 preliminaries and 1823 others. The Probation Officers also made 6784 appearances in the courts. Besides a total of 31 prisoners were rehabilitated by arranging financial aid of Rs.54500/- through Nationalized banks.

Government have also ordered the Probation Officers to make visit to Police lockups in order to ensure that there is no violation of human rights.

7. A number of schemes to the tune of Rs.180 lakhs under Modernization of Prison Administration funded by Government of India with a matching grant from State Government have been implemented for improving security arrangements. The main thrust is given on provision of modern equipments like communication equipments, Closed Circuit Televisions, Cell phone De-activators, Live wire fencing, Lighting arrangements, Bomb detection equipments, Modern weapon, Recording facilities metal detectors, Night vision binoculars, watch tower, deep search metal detector, small arms stimulator etc., Modern training has been provided to prison personnel to take care of the safety and security of the Prisons and staff. High Security enclosures have been built in three Central Prisons at Tiruchirappalli, Salem and Coimbatore and extended to Central Prison, Chennai and Vellore.

8. Under Eleventh finance Commission financial aid to the tune of Rs.480.00 lakhs and Rs.160.34 lakhs respectively has been sanctioned for the year 2001-02 and 2002-03 to this Department by the Government of India as 100% grant. The grants have been used to carry out repairs and renovation of Prison buildings, Sanitation and water supply arrangements, improve hospital amenities, provide computer facilities for prisoners’ training and improve security in prisons. A sum of Rs.159.66 lakhs has been awarded by the Eleventh Finance Commission for the year 2003-04 for fourteen works pertaining to security arrangements. The works have been implemented.

9. Warders are given training in drill, discipline, management and correctional methods for six months at Warders’ Training Centre, Vellore. Emphasis is given on human rights of prisoners. Handling of Modern weapons is also taught. Besides, periodical refresher courses are given to Warders and Chief Head Warders.

The Warders’ Training Centre at Vellore functions with a capacity to train 100 Warders. Warders are also sent to undergo various training courses in the Police Commando School in Chennai.

10. This Institution has been imparting training to the Prison officers of 4 Southern state of Andra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, & Tamil Nadu in the field of correctional aspects and prison management, since 1979. The expenditure of the Institution is equally shared by the four participating southern states.

11. Officers are also deputed for National level courses in Human Rights, Prison Management etc. which are conducted by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, New Delhi and National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi and National Institute of Forensic Science, New Delhi, National Institute of Social Defence, New Delhi.

12. All warders of this Department are recruited through Tamil Nadu Uniformed Service Recruitment Board in accordance with the standards set by the rules. In order to implement 8 hour duty system fully, additional recruitment of 352 Grade II Warders was ordered by Government. The recruitment will be done by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board.

13. As a policy of the Government high security blocks were created initially in Coimbatore, Salem and Trichy for confining hardcore prisoners. Later, to deal with the increased population of hardcore prisoners, and for the purpose of segregation and diversion, the High security block concept was enlarged to other prisons also. All fundamentalist and hardcore prisoners confined in high security enclosures of various prisons, are internally guarded by the Prison staff and externally by Police. All such prisoners are subjected to proper search daily and periodically by higher authorities. They are segregated from other prisoners as per prison rules.

Visitors to these prisons are thoroughly searched by the Police and Prison authorities before and after interview. Regular anti-sabotage checks are also being carried out to prevent any escape or untoward incidents in Prison. Proper lighting, installation of Closed circuit television cameras, Metal detectors, Cell phone de-activators and live wire fencing over the walls are installed in all Central Prisons as a security measure. In such confinement, all prisoners are treated with proper human dignity with respect for all human rights.

All prisoners involved in serial bomb blast case who are kept in Central prison Coimbatore are being tried daily by a Special court at Coimbatore. Tamil Nadu Liberation Army Prisoners and other bomb blast cases prisoners are kept in Special Sub Jail, Poonamallee, where they also tried by a Special court attached to that Special Sub Jail. A Few others are also being tried in local courts.

14. Balanced diet prepared under hygienic conditions is supplied to the prisoners as per the scale prescribed. Items like milk, bread, egg etc., are given to the prisoners as medical diet for sick prisoners on the recommendation of the Medical officer. Stainless steel plates and mugs are provided to prisoners besides Stainless steel cooking vessel and Trolleys for use in prisons for better health and Hygienic conditions. Government have also issued orders for issue of diet to the prisoners confined in sub jails on par with the prisoners confined in central prisons. These orders have been implemented during the year 2003-2004. Clothing and bedding are provided to the prisoners as per the norms laid down.

As a welfare measure, Government have issued orders to change the cotton shirt and shorts issued to prisoner to Terry cotton and also to increase the size of the blanket issued to them. Government have also sanctioned clothes to remand prisoners who do not have adequate clothes. All these welfare measures have been implemented.

15. Prisoners are provided adequate medical facilities. Health camps are also conducted regularly. Prisoners suffering from leprosy are given specialised treatment. Mentally challenged prisoners are also adequately treated by admitting them in the Government Mental Health Institute, Chennai. DOTS (Directly observed treatment short course) centre has been established in Central Prison to eradicate Tuberculosis among the prisoners. Smoking in prisons has been banned by the Government as a health care measure. Ambulances have been provided to all Central Prisons. Clinical laboratories, Electro Cardiogram, Auto Blood analyzer and portable X-ray equipments have been provided in Central Prisons to carry out clinical tests. Tooth powder and Toilet soap are also issued to prisoners for better health care.

16. Free interview facilities are available to the prisoners. The interview application is supplied freely and it can be down loaded from the Prison website. Newspapers and periodicals are also supplied at Government cost. Books of educative and literary value are kept in Prison libraries and books are also borrowed from the District libraries for use of the prisoners. Facilities are provided to prisoners to play Indoor & Out Door games.

17. Distance Educational facilities are given to the prisoners at Government cost. Elementary schools are functioning with qualified teachers for adult education. The Indira Gandhi National Open University is conducting the following courses:

Certificate course in food and nutrition

Bachelor's preparatory programme

Certificate course in computers

A total of 43 prisoners have been admitted to the above courses of study during the current year and their educational expense amounting to Rs.63,535/- has been met by the Government.

The Manonmaniam Sundaranar University is offering Undergraduate and Post graduate courses exclusively for the Prisoners in the Central Prison. Under this programme which is the first of its kind in the country, the courses will adopt the syllabus prescribed under the Open University system. A total of 28 prisoners from various prisons have enrolled themselves in both Undergraduate and Post graduate courses under this scheme. A sum of Rs.31,860/- has been spent by the Government towards the educational expenses of the prisoners admitted to Graduate and post graduate courses in this University.

18. With a view to expedite the disposal of petty cases, in which the accused pleads guilty, to avoid the remand prisoner being detained unnecessarily longer and to have easy access to the presiding officers to get cases solved quickly, the prisoners Adalat which is the first of its kind in the country has been established in all Central Prisons and in the Special Prisons for Women (except 2 prisons which will have the systems soon). The Magistrates are attending Prisoners’ Adalat on turn basis and disposing off the cases of Prisoners who plead guilty.

Free legal Aid facilities are available to the prisoners. Legal Aid Cell has been established in all Central Prisons and Special Prison for Women by the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority, Chennai.

19. Sealed complaint boxes have been installed in prisons to enable the prisoners to ventilate their grievances. District and Sessions Judge opens the boxes on the first working day of every month and sends the complaints to the appropriate authorities for action. Sessions Judges and Chief Judicial Magistrates also make surprise visits to prisons, check food and other facilities to prisoners and enquire their grievances once a month.

20. Official visitors make periodical visits to the prisons to ensure good administration. The members of Human rights commission, Hon’ble Judges and other dignitaries also make visits to the prisons to ensure the provision of basic requirements and proper treatment of prisoners.

Members of Public who are interested in prisons and have good background of social work are appointed as non-official visitors. They are allowed to meet the prisoners to enable the latter to ventilate their grievances. They also visit all premises of the prison to satisfy themselves that the implementation of rules and regulations of prisons is proper. The term of the non-official visitors is three years. Government in G.O.Ms No.797 Home Department, dated 3.9.02 have delegated the powers to the Additional Director General of Prisons for appointment of Non-official visitors to all Central Prisons, Special Prison for Women and Sub Jail to avoid delay. The non-official visitors have been appointed in almost all Central Prisons and in most of the Sub Jails.

Human Rights

21. Government have ensured that the prisoners get their basic amenities. Their human rights are protected by providing decent living conditions, good food, sufficient clothing, proper treatment, proper medical care, interview rights and education. Prison official are sensitized adequately to be receptive to the basic requirements and genuine grievances of the Prisoners.

Members of National and State Human rights commissions and Hon’ble Judges have visited the prisons in Tamil Nadu and have commended the administration of jails. The National Human rights commission has often expressed its concern in regard to general overcrowding in prisons. As a remedial measure, the Government is actively considering the up-gradation of Sub Jails at District Headquarters as District Jails. This would ease the pressure on central prisons. Provision of more facilities at District level would also help to avoid unnecessary transit of prisoners. As a first step, the Sub Jail at Srivaikundam has been taken up for upgradation as District jail at a cost of Rs.85.30 lakhs. The work is in progress. Apart from this, Government have declared Sub Jail, Nanguneri as Special Sub Jail. Structural modification have been carried out at a cost of Rs.15 lakhs to accommodate more prisoners and to enable the sub-jail to function as Special Sub Jail.

22. To improve the communication between the prisoners and officials Central Prisons and Special Prison for Women, Vellore and Trichy and the Borstal School at Pudukottai, have been provided with Public Address System.

23. Telephone connection has been provided to the residence of the Superintendent, Special Prison for Women, Vellore. In addition to this Microwave telephone connection to the Superintendent of Prisons, Special Prison for Women and Office of the Additional Director General of Prisons have been provided. Importance has been given for better communication facilities between Sub Jails and Central Prisons for effective administration by providing telephone connection to 37 Sub Jails. Platform scales have been provided to 7 Sub Jails. Electronic Postal Franking machines have been provided to all Central Prisons, the Borstal School at Pudukottai, Special Prison for Women, Vellore and Trichy and Office of the Additional Director General of Prisons.