Ranchi: Jharkhand is preparing a prison reform system that will allow selected inmates with good conduct records to leave jail for work during the day and return by evening, with the aim of supporting their families and helping them transition back into society.

Under the proposed system, eligible prisoners could leave prison as early as 6 or 7 am to work outside the jail premises and would have to return within 12 hours, by the evening.

The scheme will not apply to all inmates. Prison authorities are expected to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) setting out eligibility requirements, working arrangements, monitoring mechanisms and rules that participants must follow.

Only prisoners who maintain good conduct and have a clean record inside the prison are expected to be considered.

Prisoners who violate the conditions of the scheme could face action, while authorities will monitor those permitted to work outside the prison.

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Four central jails selected

The initiative is being prepared at four central prisons in Jharkhand:

  • Birsa Munda Central Jail, Ranchi
  • Jayaprakash Narayan Central Jail, Hazaribagh
  • Ghaghidih Central Jail, East Singhbhum
  • Dumka Central Jail, Dumka

Barracks and cells at these prisons have already been identified for conversion into open or semi-open barracks, depending on the requirements.

According to Prison IG Sudarshan Mandal, the four prisons were selected partly because they are located in urban areas, where inmates are more likely to find employment and livelihood opportunities outside prison.

Work aimed at rehabilitation and family support

The proposed system is intended to go beyond providing employment to prisoners.

Authorities want eligible inmates to gradually develop independence, workplace responsibilities and the ability to manage life outside prison before completing their sentences.

The income earned through their work could also help prisoners support their families financially.

The approach is based on the idea that a controlled transition from prison to the outside world could help inmates reconnect with society and prepare for life after release.

The proposed system has a legal basis under the Jharkhand Prison and Correctional Services Act, 2025, which provides for the establishment of Open Correctional Institutions (OCIs).

The precise conditions under which prisoners will be allowed to work outside the prison will depend on the SOP being prepared by the prison administration.

Infrastructure work is currently underway at the four selected central jails before the system is launched.

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How the system could work

The proposed model would create a controlled arrangement between incarceration and full freedom.

Eligible inmates would remain prisoners and continue to be subject to prison rules, but could leave the premises for approved employment during specified hours. They would then return to the prison within the permitted period.

Good conduct would be a key consideration, while monitoring and disciplinary provisions would be used to ensure compliance.

The broader objective is to use employment as part of the rehabilitation process and help prisoners gradually adjust to responsibilities they will face after completing their sentences.

Jharkhand's proposal represents a shift towards a more rehabilitation-focused approach to imprisonment. Instead of treating incarceration only as a period of confinement, the planned open and semi-open system would allow selected inmates to develop employment experience and financial independence while remaining under correctional supervision.

The model is deliberately limited to eligible prisoners and is expected to operate under an SOP defining who can participate and what safeguards will apply. The selection of four urban prisons also reflects the practical need for inmates to have access to jobs and livelihood opportunities outside the prison.

If implemented as planned, the system could provide a structured transition between prison and release, while allowing families of eligible inmates to benefit from their earnings. Its effectiveness will depend on the final eligibility rules, monitoring arrangements and enforcement mechanisms.