This was approved in the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday.
The proposed bill will cover various aspects of prison management, including security, safety, scientific and technological interventions, segregation of prisoners, special provisions for women prisoners, taking appropriate action against criminal activities of prisoners in prison, parole of prisoners. And includes granting leave. Their education, vocational training and skill development.
It will also have provisions regarding reform, rehabilitation and integration of prisoners into society.
A senior state government official said as prisons are a state subject, the Center had asked the Center to enact appropriate legislation on the lines of the Model Prison and Correctional Services Act, 2023.
"The bill aims to make administrative and technical reforms in prisons and implement welfare programs for prisoners and after-care and rehabilitation services," he said.
He said that the Union Home Ministry is providing necessary assistance and guidance to the State for efficient management of prisons under its jurisdiction.
According to state government data, as of January 31, 2023, there are about 41,075 prisoners in Maharashtra's 60 jails against a combined capacity of 24,722 prisoners.
Of the 41,075 prisoners, 39,504 were men, 1,556 were women and 15 were trans-gender. Of them, 7,949 were convicts, 32,917 undertrials and 209 prisoners. There were also a total of 606 foreign prisoners in jails.
The number of prisoners in jails in the state was 136.19 percent in 2017, 148.93 percent in 2018, 152.72 percent in 2019, 128.70 percent in 2020 and 148.80 percent in 2021.
In 2021, Maharashtra ranked seventh in the country in terms of occupancy rate.
The proposed bill will cover various aspects of prison management, including security, safety, scientific and technological interventions, segregation of prisoners, special provisions for women prisoners, taking appropriate action against criminal activities of prisoners in prison, parole of prisoners. And includes granting leave. Their education, vocational training and skill development.
It will also have provisions regarding reform, rehabilitation and integration of prisoners into society.
A senior state government official said as prisons are a state subject, the Center had asked the Center to enact appropriate legislation on the lines of the Model Prison and Correctional Services Act, 2023.
"The bill aims to make administrative and technical reforms in prisons and implement welfare programs for prisoners and after-care and rehabilitation services," he said.
He said that the Union Home Ministry is providing necessary assistance and guidance to the State for efficient management of prisons under its jurisdiction.
According to state government data, as of January 31, 2023, there are about 41,075 prisoners in Maharashtra's 60 jails against a combined capacity of 24,722 prisoners.
Of the 41,075 prisoners, 39,504 were men, 1,556 were women and 15 were trans-gender. Of them, 7,949 were convicts, 32,917 undertrials and 209 prisoners. There were also a total of 606 foreign prisoners in jails.
The number of prisoners in jails in the state was 136.19 percent in 2017, 148.93 percent in 2018, 152.72 percent in 2019, 128.70 percent in 2020 and 148.80 percent in 2021.
In 2021, Maharashtra ranked seventh in the country in terms of occupancy rate.
