Being updated

The Department at present is headed by Director General, Prisons. The Prisons Department controls and supervises the Jails of the State and ensures the safe custody of prisoners. Its activities are also aimed at bringing about the reformation / rehabilitation of the prisoners.

At present there are thirteen Jails of different types for lodgement of prisoners which includes two Central Jails at Kotbalwal and Srinagar, eight District Jails at Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla and Kupwara and Leh and three Sub-Jails at Hiranagar, Reasi and Kishtwar. The total capacity for prisoners in these Jails is 2775.

To augment the capacity of Jails, the Government is establishing/setting up new Jails at Pulwama, Anantnag, Kishtwar, Kargil and Doda (Bhaderwah).

In Jammu and Kashmir, a Jail Manual for Superintendence and Management of Prisons has been notified in the year 2000. The new Jail Manual focuses on changing the concept of prisons from a place meant to punish criminals to centres of reformation. Reformation in Jails is a continuous process The Government is of the firm belief that the period spent by under-trials, convicts or those detained under PSA must be utilized to the benefit of these inmates. In this regard, a number of rehabilitation programmes and vocational trainings are being organized in the jails of Jammu and Kashmir.

The State Govt. and Prisons Department is committed to make prisons in J&K as Reformation Centres. Besides various crafts, emphasis is being laid on educating the inmates. Various education programmes through IGNOU are in place in some of the Prisons. Literacy programmes and adult education programmes have also been started.

As part of the various reforms made in Jails, vocational training has been started in various prisons for jail inmates with an aim to develop their skills. The object is to make the prisoners employable once they complete their Jail term and merge with the society.

A number of rehabilitation programmes and training in different vocations have been started and the trades in which training is being imparted include carpet weaving, candle making, embroidery, tailoring, cloth making, assembling of transformers, typing, phenyl making, and training in electrician/carpentry/ black smith trades.

Moreover training in Computer Applications has also been started and computer training is being imparted through the IGNOU and DOEACC (a Government of India organization) has also established its Training Centres for Computer Courses at Central Jail Srinagar, Central Jail Kot bhalwal Jammu and District Jail Jammu.