THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Fifty-nine years after Rule 20 of Kerala probation of offenders’ rules mandated it, the government has decided to come up with probation homes in the state to ensure that eligible convicted prisoners are not denied parole just because they do not have a place of residence.
This would benefit at least 100 prisoners who are eligible for parole in prisons across the state but have been denied because they have no place to go or because their close relatives are not ready to accept them.
“The homes will ensure a temporary place of residence for those convicts who are eligible for early release, those on parole and those who are on probation, if they do not have a place of residence of their own,” director (social justice) Sheeba George said.
The first such home will come up in Kollam soon which will be set up in collaboration with an NGO.
Home will have facilities for 25 probationersThe social justice department has tied up with Gandhi Bhavan, Pathanapuram, to launch the first probation home in Kollam district. The home will have facilities for 25 probationers, along with facilities for recreational activities, dining rooms, library etc. The home will also offer the services of a clinical psychologist and psychiatrist in addition to regular employees.
Rule 20 of Kerala probation of offenders’ rules that was finalised and notified back in 1960 clearly stipulates such a provision but successive governments have not bothered to set up such homes.
At present, there are 338 prisoners in three central prisons and three women’s prisons in the state whose parole applications have been declined. This includes 176 prisoners in the central prison in the capital, 113 in central prison at Viyyur and 43 in central prison Kannur. For granting parole for convicts, two reports are usually considered --a police report and the report from the probation officer.
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