J&K Prisons Department with its 14 functional Jails housing nearly twenty five hundred inmates, endeavors to provide standard and consistent correctional services to the inmates in a controlled environment conducive for reformation. Our Principle in handling Prisoners is surveillance coupled with ideological remolding of offenders & engaging them in productive activities thereby enabling them to contribute to the society as useful units after release.
The Prisons Department has been able to design and implement need based correctional programmes like Academic Education Programmes which include Basic Literacy Programmes, Adult Continuing Education Programmes and Vocational Training Programmes like Basics in computers, candle making, carpentary, Handloom/ Power loom , Pipe Band, painting, Embroidery, Tani making, Cutting and tailoring, Durrie making, etc., and some IGNOU run Courses, Awareness and Sensitization Programmes, Psychiatric consultations and Recreational programmes. Sports and cultural programmes are a regular feature of the J&K Prisons Department. The Prison manufactured products are put to sale at our retail outlet ‘Parivartan’ located near District Jail Amphalla and in exhibitions and Police Melas. Wages as fixed by the Govt. go directly to the Prisoner’s account thereby enabling them to earn livelihood while serving the sentence. Convicted prisoners are prematurely released on Independence Day and Republic Day and also periodically released within legal framework to facilitate family contact and to support their reintegration in the community after release.
Although much has been done in the sphere of corrections but a lot still needs to be done. We aim to design sustainable programmes to prevent reoffending and to make inmates contributive to the society by recasting their habits and redirecting approaches and value systems. The Department aspires to establish a Correctional Institution and an Open Prison at Mishriwalla, Jammu and to recruit more correctional/executive staff under TRP to overcome the challenges faced in managing the Prisons due to shortage of staff. While continuing the legacy of my Predecessors, I would strive to make a more vibrant and transparent organization and adoption of modern technology and latest trends in corrections shall be on top of our agenda. At last, I would take this opportunity to appreciate the staff for successful handling of Prisons within limited resources and I hope they will continue to work with the same zeal and dedication in the years to come.
