Goa begins work for its first experimentation with open, semi-open prison

Panaji: The Supreme Court last year suggested the establishment of open prisons, in order to ease the burden on the prison system and to ensure smoother rehabilitation of inmates on release. Goa govt has already started taking measures in this direction, with a team recently having visited other states to study the concept, sources said.
There are plans to turn the Colvale central jail into either an open or semi-open prison, which means that inmates can leave the prison for some hours in a day for either work or education. After conducting a detailed study, jail authorities have submitted a detailed proposal to govt for its approval to implement an open jail concept at Colvale.
“The IGP has the power to request industries to employ prison inmates. In open prisons, reformed and eligible prisoners can leave for work for a few hours a day and return in the evening. It is seen in open prisons that those who have served long sentences already and display good behaviour are unlikely to attempt escape, as this will mean they will face harsher punishment instead of timely release,” said an official.
There are over 600 inmates at the Colvale jail at present, including convicts and undertrials.
Goa is among 11 states and Union territories that has never experimented with the open or semi-open prison concept. Goa, however, laid the grounds for setting up open or semi-open prisons before the recent SC judgement.
In 2021, the state framed new prison rules, under which the grounds were laid for the introduction of open prisons, semi-open prisons, and open colonies and camps.
Recently, Goa police announced that it is also planning to set up a petrol pump outside the Colvale central jail, which will similarly be run by reformed inmates and help them establish contact with the world outside through a productive and revenue-earning activity.
“It is traditionally seen that overcrowding, hygiene issues, psychological issues came down in prisons with the open prison system. Also, it helps in reform and easy rehabilitation of prisoners once they leave the prison system. Otherwise, one often finds it difficult to make the sudden change of adapting in society on release. Open prisons help them earn money, puts the responsibility on the inmate, rewards their good behaviour, makes them self-reliant, and helps them develop skills,” said an official.
Closed prisons are increasingly viewed as outdated and open prisons are seen to be cost-effective. A study in 2017 on open prisons by Smita Chakraburtty (commissioned by Rajasthan state legal services authority) found that open prisons require fewer staff and are 78 times cheaper than closed prisons.
Rajasthan has the highest number of open prisons in the country (seven) and also found mention in the Supreme Court judgement for its successful implementation. In India, the maximum number of open institutions (11) were set up between 1961 and 1970, but the setting up of such institutions slowed down from 2000 onwards.