Model Prisons Act, 2023

 About Model Prisons Act, 2023:

• The government had earlier decided to review and revise the colonial-era outdated Prison Act in tune with contemporary modern-day needs and correctional ideology.
• The Model Prison Act, 2023 may serve as a guiding document for the States, and for adoption in their jurisdiction.
• Union Home Ministry had assigned the task of revision of the Prisons Act, 1894 to the Bureau of Police Research and Development.
• The Bureau prepared a draft after holding wide-ranging discussions with State Prison authorities, correctional experts, and others.
• It has been prepared with the objective of holistically providing guidance and addressing the gaps in the existing Prisons Act.

Features:

• Some salient features of the new Model Prisons Act include provision for security assessment and segregation of prisoners, and individual sentence planning.
• Grievance redressal, prison development board, attitudinal change towards prisoners, provision of separate accommodation for women prisoners, and transgender are some of the other features.
• There is also a provision for use of technology in prison administration with a view to bring transparency in prison administration.
• The new Act will focus on vocational training and skill development of prisoners and their reintegration into the society.

Q1) What does Bureau of Police Research and Development do?

The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) was set up in 1970 to identify the needs and problems of the police in the country, undertake research projects and studies, and suggest modalities to overcome problems and challenges and meet the needs and requirements of the police.

Source: Centre finalizes comprehensive ‘Model Prisons Act, 2023’ to focus on skill development of prisoners

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