Bihar may have its first open jail soon

Patna, June 22: The Bihar government may set up its first open jail for 100 inmates where the convicts could stay in a family ambience for their speedy reform.

A detailed project report has been submitted to the state's home department to establish an open jail adjacent to the Buxar central jail, IG (prisons) Sandeep Paundrik said.

A 20-acre plot has been identified for the purpose.

A two-member team comprising the superintendents of Phulwarisharif and Buxar central jails was sent to Jaipur to study the functioning of open prisons in Rajasthan and on the basis of its report, the DPR was prepared for setting up the jail without walls which has been submitted to the home department, he said.

He said the jail department in its proposal had recommended that only those prisoners who have undergone 50 per cent of their sentence would be entitled to get the benefit of the open jail where they could stay with their families and take up jobs of their choice within a raidus of 5 km of the jail premises.

Though they will not have guards breathing down their necks all the time and will be allowed to go and work outside, the inmates will be required to answer the roll calls twice in the morning and evening.

There are 26 open jails across the country but none in Bihar.