MP Allows Women Convicts in Open Prisons

The Madhya Pradesh state government has approved a proposal to allow women prisoners to be accommodated in open prisons. The jail department minister will decide the names of male and female prisoners who can live with their families in the state's eight open prisons.

The jail department had submitted a proposal to the state government seeking permission to allow women prisoners to be kept in open prisons. Earlier, the scheme was available only to male prisoners. Currently, there are 800 convicted female prisoners and 20,000 male prisoners in the state's 11 central jails, 41 district jails, and 73 sub-jails.

There are eight open prisons in Madhya Pradesh, located in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Narmadapuram, Satna, Ujjain, and Sagar. The combined capacity of these open prisons is 138 inmates, with 111 inmates currently residing there. In an open prison, every inmate is provided with a one-bedroom house to live with their family and is permitted to go outside the prison for work to support their family.

The new provisions state that male and female prisoners will get an equal opportunity to live in the open prison colony. Applications will be invited from convicted prisoners, and a committee chaired by the Director General of prisons will examine and approve eligible applications. After clearance from the committee, the jail department minister will approve the final list.

Open prisons differ from conventional jails, with no bars or strict surveillance, and inmates are permitted to live with their families. They may go out for work between approximately 6 am and 6 pm but must return at night. Employment is typically sought within a 20-km radius. The government provides rations and essential supplies for the first month, after which inmates support their families through their own earnings.

To qualify for transfer to an open prison, an inmate must have maintained good conduct in jail and must not face allegations of indiscipline, fighting, violence, or serious violations of prison regulations. Physical and mental fitness is essential to enable the inmate to work in an open environment. Transfers are restricted to inmates serving sentences exceeding seven years who have completed at least two-thirds of their sentence. Inmates serving life imprisonment may be transferred to an open prison after 14 years.

Additional conditions include possession of a vocational skill or means of livelihood and an assurance that the inmate will not abscond while residing in the open prison. Convicts involved in serious offences, such as terrorist activities, treason, or organized crime, are not eligible for transfer to open prisons.

This decision is a significant step towards reforming the prison system in Madhya Pradesh, providing women convicts with an opportunity to live with their families and reintegrate into society. The move is expected to have a positive impact on the rehabilitation of women prisoners and their families.

The Madhya Pradesh government's decision to allow women convicts in open prisons is a progressive step towards promoting gender equality and rehabilitation in the prison system. The move is likely to be seen as a positive development in the state's efforts to reform its prison system and provide better living conditions for prisoners.

In conclusion, the approval of women convicts in open prisons is a significant development in the Madhya Pradesh prison system. The decision is expected to have a positive impact on the rehabilitation of women prisoners and their families, and is a step towards promoting gender equality and rehabilitation in the prison system.