Prison Reforms
Checking, Correcting and Preventing Human Rights Violations through
Community Involvement in Prisons

Places of incarceration are largely impermeable to the outside world. Inaccessibility and lack of accountability, coupled with indifference of the public towards prisoners lead to gross violation of their rights. To counter this situation, the traditional institution of prison visitors is available in many countries of the world where people independent of the prison system are appointed as prison visitors. The prison visitors are obligated to visit prisons and report on the actual conditions therein.

CHRI works in India through this institution of prison visitors to reach out to a large number of prisons as well as to address a vast number of problematic issues concerning prisons, prisoners and the prison staff. The system of prison visitors is faulty in most states since appointments are carried out on grounds of political affiliations than on any knowledge and experience of prison related matters. Still CHRI has found a lot of potential in this institution given the eagerness shown by many prison visitors and governments to work better, if they are provided with training and information on good practices.

Many problems in prisons are also due to financial constraints given that prisons figure at the bottom of the budgetary priorities of most governments. CHRI sees the potential of expanding the mandate of the prison visiting system to mobilize community resources to meet the crunch to an appreciable extent.

CHRI works towards re-invigorating the institution of prison visitors by researching on the performance of prison visitors; assessment of local needs; conducting capacity building programmes for prison visitors; advocating for – better recruitment standards for visitors and better working conditions for prison staff. CHRI also tries to encourage an attitude of cooperation in place of indifference and discrimination between the different wings of the criminal justice system.

CHRI works with National and State level Human Rights Commissions, Commissions for Women and other government and non-government departments, institutions and individuals.

Presently CHRI is working in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.