JUSTICE AND PEACE

the JAIL DEPARTMENT.

Location of Jails.

THERE IS ONE MAIN PRISON AT RATNAGIRI which has been declared as " special prison" to concentrate " bad hats" from other jails in the State so as to give them deterrent treatment. The jail is in charge of a Superintendent. Casual prisoners convicted and sentenced to more than three months, but not exceeding two years are sent to Sangli District Prison and prisoners sentenced to more than two years to Yeravda Central Prison. All habitual prisoners from the district are sent to Nasik Road Central Prison. Short term prisoners with sentences ranging from one week to a month are accommodated in taluka subsidiary jails located at Chiplun, Deogad, Deorukh, Dapoli, Guhagar, Khed, Kankavli, Kudal, Mandangad, Rajapur and Vengurla. These sub-jails are classified as HI class sub-jails and are administered by the Revenue Department. The sub-jail at Sawantwadi is classified as II class head-quarter sub-jail, which is in charge of a jailor-cum-superintendent.

The lock-ups are staffed by the Police Department.

Organisation.

The Inspector-General of Prisons exercises general control and superintendence of all prisons and jails in the State. He is assisted by Deputy Inspector-General, Personal Assistant, Superintendent of Jail Industries and other office staff.

The executive officer in charge of a Central or a District Prison is the Superintendent who is vested with the executive management of the prison in all matters relating to internal economy, discipline, labour, punishment and control generally subject to the orders and authority of the Inspector-General.

Training.

The Superintendents of Prisons and Jails receive a theoretical as well as practical training in Jail Officers' Training School at Yeravda on a scientific basis in all fields of correctional work.

A physical training instructor visits the jails in the State in rotation and imparts training in drill, games and other physical activities both to the inmates of the jail and also to the jail guards.

Due care is taken to see that every jail officer and every jail subordinate gets an adequate opportunity to acquaint himself with the theoretical as well as practical sides of his duties so that he can discharge them quite satisfactorily. The training programme has in fact gained an important place in the jail administration which is aiming at giving a material shape to the idea-"imprisonment should primarily aim at treating a prisoner's diseased mind since the crime which he commits is but a sign of a diseased mind, and also making him fit to go into society after his release to lead an honest life".

Guarding Establishment.

Part of the guarding establishment is armed and this section serves as a reserve guard to reinforce the unarmed guards in the immediate charge of prisoners inside the prison or in extramural gangs in the event of assault, mutiny, escape or other emergency.

Matron.

No post of Matron is sanctioned for Ratnagiri special prison and Sawantwadi sub-jail but the Superintendent is empowered to engage a matron locally whenever a woman prisoner is admitted to the jail.

Medical Officer.

No Medical staff is sanctioned for headquarter sub-jail at Sawantwadi but the Maharashtra Medical Service Officer in charge of the local Government dispensary or the Medical Officer attached to the Local Board or Municipal Dispensary stationed at or nearest to the place where the sub-jail is situated is deemed to be the Medical Officer of the Jail.

Classification of Prisoners.

Prisoners are classified as Class I or Class II by the Court after taking into consideration their status in society and also the nature of the offence. They are further classified as casuals, habituals, undertrials, and security or detenus. There is no separate class of " political prisoners ". Prisoners are also grouped as " short termers ", i.e. having a sentence upto three months, " medium termers", i.e. sentenced to three months and above upto two years, and "long termers ", i.e. sentenced to two years and above. The short termers are given deterrent treatment while in the case of medium and long termers paramount importance is given to the reformation of the prisoner, Headquarter sub-jails are meant for the confinement of short term prisoners and under trial prisoners only.

Jail Reforms Committee.

The Jail Reforms Committee appointed by the State Government in 1946 in their report made several recommendations calculated to conduce to the reformation of the prisoner and Government accepted many of those recommendations. The rules for the treatment have since been liberalised. The regulations regarding corporal punishment have been tightened and whipping as a jail punishment is now to be awarded exceptionally after obtaining prior sanction of Government. Punishments of penal diet and gunny clothing have been abolished. Rules about letters and interviews have also been liberalized.

Canteen.

Jail canteens have been opened in main jails. Profits accruing from canteens are utilized for purchase of articles like radios, books, and such other articles as to promote the welfare of prisoners.

Remission of sentence.

Only long-termers come within the ambit of the rules en the subject. Prisoners confined in the main prison are granted liberal remissions which are classified as-Ordinary Remission; Annual Good Conduct Remission; Special Remission; Blood Donation Remission; Remission for Conservancy Work; and Remission for Physical Training.

In addition, State remission is awarded by Government on occasions of public rejoicing. It is granted unconditionally and cannot be forfeited under any circumstances.

Work.

Work is arranged according to the prisoner's health. Prisoners are engaged during the period of their imprisonment at Ratnagiri Special Prison on the following jobs-handloom, pitloom weaving, punja carpet weaving, laundry work, bidi making, carpentry, and gardening.

Release on parole and furlough.

A prisoner may be released on parole in cases of serious illness or death of any member of his family or his nearest relative or for any other sufficient cause. The period spent on parole will not count as part of the sentence.

The prisoner who desires to be released on parole has to submit his application to the Jail Superintendent who has to endorse his remarks thereon and submit one copy thereof direct to Government and one copy to the Inspector-General of Prisons along with the nominal roll of the prisoner concerned. Prisoners who apply for parole on false grounds or who abuse the concession or commit breaches of any of the conditions of parole are liable to be punished. Enquiries as regards genuineness or otherwise of the grounds advanced in the application are made through the local Revenue and Police Officers.

Prisoners with a sentence of one year and above are entitled for being released on furlough for a period of two weeks which will be counted as a part of sentence.

Board of Visitors.

A Board of Visitors composing official and non-official visitors is appointed for every headquarter sub-jail and taluka sub-jails. There are ordinarily four non-official visitors for head-quarter sub-jail of which two are the members of the Maharashtra Legislature and two are nominated by Government of whom one is a lady. The appointment of non-official visitors other than members of the Maharashtra Legislature is made for a period not exceeding three years. Persons who in the opinion of Government are interested in the prison administration and are likely to take interest in the welfare of prisoners both while they are in prison and after their release are nominated by Government on the Board of visitors on the recommendation of the District Magistrate concerned and the Inspector-General of Prisons. The Chairman of the Board of visitors who is usually the District Magistrate arranges for a weekly visit to the prison by one of the members of the Board. Quarterly meetings of the whole Board are convened. Non-official visitors are also allowed to visit prison on any day at any time during the day in addition to the weekly visit arranged by the Chairman. The Board records in the Visitor's Book its observations on the result of the detailed inspection of the Jails. Any remark at the quarterly meeting or at the weekly visits deserving special and prompt disposal is immediately forwarded by the Superintendent to the Inspector-General for necessary orders. Other remarks made by the visitors and the quarterly committee of visitors are forwarded immediately after the end of the month by the Superintendent to the Inspector-General with such remarks as he may desire to offer.

Jail Panchayat.

In bigger jails a committee of prisoners is selected for each yard by the prisoners themselves, and the Jailor and the Superintendent consult the committee which is known in jail parlance as "Jail Panchayat Committee" in matters of discipline and general welfare of prisoners.

Education.

Literacy classes are conducted for those prisoners who are ignorant of the three Rs. under the supervision of literate convicts and paid teachers are appointed only at some of the main jails in the State. Films of educational and reformative values are also exhibited by the District Regional Publicity Officer concerned.

Sanitation and Hygiene.

Utmost precautions are taken in treating the prisoners suffering from various diseases and jail hospitals are equipped with all possible requirements. Special types of diseases are attended to with due care. All possible measures are taken against the spread of epidemics and contagious diseases.

Accommodation.

The authorised accommodation and daily average population of Ratnagiri Special Prison and Sawantwadi Sub-Jail for the year 1957 was as under:-

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