e-Prisons: New software for prison reforms
Q. Modi government has initiated which prison reform?- Published on 20 Mar 17a. Migrating to e-prisons, a software to integrate prison data across the nation
b. Attempt at long pending prison reforms
c. Release of under trials booked for petty crimes
d. All of the above
ANSWER: All of the above
Modi government is pushing for implementation of prison reforms across the nation and the release of under trial prisoners in jails for longer than the number of years sentenced if convicted.
Union law ministry has asked states to migrate to the software, e-prisons to integrate prison data across the country; the aim is to roll out pending prison reforms and ensure release of under trials booked for petty crimes.
Of 4.18 lakh prisoners across the country, 67% or 2.82 lakh are under trials, many of them booked for petty crimes like theft.
Less than 1.28 lakh in jails are those who have been convicted and are serving their sentence.
The use of e-prisons software is for efficient management of the prison information system.
Gujarat, Odisha, Goa, Jharkhand and Haryana are just some of the states where maximum number of prisoners are under trials.
The states and UTs have shifted to this software, though some are still reluctant.
The special software updates prisoner's data along with information on the trial stage and period of sentence served if convicted.
Special software developed by the Centre was first test-checked successfully as a pilot in Tihar jail.
The software creates an alert when the under trial completes 50% of the prison term without bail for offences he has been charged with.
