Bhopal: In order to bring murder convicts into mainstream and help in their social reintegration before their release, the government is planning to open five new open jails in the state. On the Republic Day, a 25-cottage open prison will be inaugurated in Satna. Currently the state has one open jail in Hoshangabad district.
The department has planned to open five new open jails in Bhopal, Rewa, Jabalpur, Ujjain and Gwalior, for which it will soon send a detailed proposal to the state government, informed DG Jail Sanjay Choudhary while talking to Free Press. The Satna open jail comprises 2 BHK cottages, where murder convicts left with up to two years of jail terms will be allowed to live with their families. The convicts, who have also been certified by their respective Central jails for their good conduct while serving their term, will be allowed to work outside and earn on their own.
“It’s a kind of midway home for the murder convicts before they settle with their families again after completion of jail term and start living a normal life away from the world of crime,” said Choudhary. The jail department is conducting a survey of various open jails in the nation. A team of jail department headed by Narsinghpur Central jail superintendent Shephali Rajesh conducted a survey of six open jails in Rajasthan, which has maximum number of open jails in the country, informed DG, adding that the team is now touring the country’s first open jail for women convicts in Yerawada Central prison in Pune.
The findings of the survey, being conducted in Rajasthan and Maharashtra open jails are likely to be included while drafting proposal for open jails in MP. In these open jails, the convicts of murder and others who are serving over 12 years imprisonment are housed before the 2-year completion of their term. “Now the proposal has been prepared wherein, inmates whose three year imprisonment is left will be kept in the open jail. The proposal is pending with the government. This will help to reduce the overcrowding in the jail,” he added.
