Govt issues new parole policy for prisoners

The Ministry of Home Affairs has officially issued a new set of guidelines governing the release of prisoners on parole. 

The policy, released by the Ministry’s Prison-2 branch on Monday, provides a clear framework regarding the conditions, duration, and authorized powers for granting temporary release to both VIP and general categories of inmates.

According to a press release by Assistant Inspector General of Prisons (Development) Md. Jannat-ul Farhad, the new regulations clarify that prisoners may be granted parole to attend the funerals of "near relatives," specifically defined as parents, parents-in-law, spouses, children, and siblings. 

Additionally, the Ministry reserves the right to grant parole based on court orders or special government decisions for other pressing reasons.

Duration and Limits: Parole release is strictly capped at a maximum of 12 hours. However, the government retains the authority to increase or decrease this time frame in exceptional circumstances.

Key provisions of the new policy are--

Security Protocols: While on parole, inmates must remain under constant police surveillance. Security personnel are responsible for escorting the prisoner from the jail gate and ensuring their return within the permitted timeframe.

Geographic Jurisdiction: The District Magistrate holds the authority to grant parole. If an inmate is held in a jail within their home district, parole may be granted for any location within that district. For inmates held in other districts, authorities will determine eligibility based on distance, transport infrastructure, and security risks.

Authority: The relevant District Magistrate has been designated as the primary authority for granting parole. They also reserve the right to deny requests based on the remoteness of the destination or safety concerns.

This new directive officially nullifies the previous parole policies issued on September 22, 2007, and March 4, 2010. 

The Ministry has instructed all relevant departments to implement these updated regulations with immediate effect to ensure a streamlined and secure process.