What Is The Model Prisons Act Of 2023 And Why Is It Significant

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced that it has finalised the preparation of the Model Prisons Act of 2023.

This would replace the existing 130-year-old colonial law and is aimed at shifting the focus of incarceration from "retributive deterrence" to "reform and rehabilitation".

The 2023 Act aims at providing guidance and address gaps in the existing prison laws. It also aims at making provisions for the grant of parole, furlough and remission as well as introduce special provisions for women and transgender inmates.

The Model Prisons Act 2023 is being introduced on the backdrop of a spate of killings and gang violence inside the prisons. One such incident was the killing of Tilly Tajpuriya, who was allegedly stabbed to death by members of a rival gang in the Tihar Jail.

The National Investigation Agency too had asked the Union Home Ministry to shift dreaded gangsters lodged in north India's prisons to southern states. The NIA's request came in the wake of nearly 25 gangsters running a criminal nexus from inside jails in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.

Home Minister Amit Shah had said that a change in the prisons laws is under works during the inauguration of the 6th All India Prison Duty Meet 2022 in Ahmedabad.

The pre-Independence Prisons Act, 1894, focused on keeping criminals in custody and enforcing discipline and order in prisons, leaving "no provision for reform and rehabilitation of prisoners, a MHA statement read.

The MHA assigned the task of revising the Prisons Act 1894, to the Bureau of Police Research and Development. The bureau held wide ranging discussions with the state prison officials and correctional experts and then prepared the draft.

The new law aims to provide separate accommodation for women and transgender inmates. It also aims act ensuring the physical and mental well-being of prisoners, and focus on the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.

It also aims at bringing attitudinal changes towards prisoners and initiate vocational training and skill development for prisoners for their reintegration into society.

The new Act will also bring in transparency in prison management and include provisions for security assessment of prisoners. New measures were prisoners to video conference with courts as has also been introduced. Prisoners using mobile phones in jail will be punished for it.

Along with the Prisons Act, the Prisoners Act of 1900 and he Transfer of Prisoners Act, 1950' have also been reviewed by the MHA. The relevant provisions have been assimilated into the Model Prisons Act 2023.