DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION:

SOME BASIC CONCEPTS

THE HIERARCHY

THE CORRECTIONAL HOMES

GUIDING STATUTES

Code of Criminal Procedure

Indian Penal Code

West Bengal Correctional Services Act

West Bengal Jail Code

GUIDING PRINCIPLESIncarceration is “as punishment” and not “for punishment”

Correctional Homes are “Custodians” where inmates are committed, either during continuation of the judicial process or on conviction

Our efforts are directed towards “correction” through constructive activities:

Income generatingCounselingEducationalCulturalSocial interactions

The District Magistrate in Correctional Administration

• General control over a DCH• Can take complete control of the DCH, if

required with intimation to the IG of CS• General control over the management and

superintendence of inmates belonging to his district in a central Correctional Home within his jurisdiction

• Visiting once a week• Deputing Officers• Superintendence over the Visitors

SUB DIVISIONAL OFFICER

•Ex-officio Superintendents of Subsidiary CHs (Sec. 7 (1) (a) of the WBCSA)•Responsible for “overall superintendence & control” •Supposed to “pay visit… at least twice a week”•Visits to be recorded in ‘Visitors’ Minute Book’ and an annual report on the number of visits made to be sent to the IGCS through the DM•Responsible for efficient management and for proper carrying out of the Rules

SUB DIVISIONAL OFFICER• Special eye on the health of the inmates•Special emphasis on sanitation•Punctuality of submission of monthly bills and returns•Ascertain quality of food•Keep a tab on purchases•Reporting incidents of escape and recapture•Reporting suicides, accidents, deaths, outbreaks of epidemic diseases and unusual sickness

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

•Controllers (Deputy Jailors) are the Chief Officers of administration of the CH (Sec. 12 of the WBCSA)•Custodian of inmates and properties•Responsible for informing the Superintendent and the Medical Officer of death•Custodian of records

MAJOR AREAS OF SUPERVISION

•Every inmate should be under charge of an individual guarding staff•Guarding staff should be on duty at their posts•The gate should never be left unmanned• All transfers should be under appropriate protection•No outside intervention in the affairs of the Correctional Home should be allowed•Periodic searches should be undertaken

Security

MAJOR AREAS OF SUPERVISIONMedicare

• Medical Officer is regular in his visit and is available on call•Medicines, especially life saving drugs are always available•In case of emergency, prompt transfer to the Hospital is arranged•In case of procedures requiring Government sanction, prompt correspondence is made

MAJOR AREAS OF SUPERVISIONWater, Sanitation and Diet

•Water quality is satisfactory•Appropriate and adequate sanitary arrangements•Regular maintenance of sanitation facilities•Surprise check on diet-

•Pre-cooking supply•During cooking use•Post cooking distribution

VULNERABLE AREAS

•HOSPITAL•KITCHEN•INTERVIEW•NEW ENTRY• MOVEMENT•ABANDONED/ UNUSED COVERED SPACES

SCOPE OF INNOVATION

•NGO ASSOCIATION•TRAINING•EDUCATION•SEGREGATION• CULTURAL ACTIVITIES•INTERACTION WITH THE JUDICIARY•SPECIAL STUDY

GOLDEN RULES•ENSURE THAT THE CH IS NEVER LEFT WITHOUT CHARGE•ENSURE THAT EVERY INMATE IS UNDER SPECIFIC CHARGE OF A PERSON, ROUND THE CLOCK AND NO ONE IS PLACED UNDER DUAL CHARGE•ENSURE THAT ANY UNNATURAL INCIDENT INCLUDING MEDICAL EMERGENCY IS PROMPTLY ATTENDED•ENSURE THAT ALL COVERED SPACES ARE LOCKED/ GUARDED• ENSURE THAT WOMEN INMATES ARE SEPARATED AND NOT ACCESSED ALONE BY MALE INMATES/ STAFF