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This page brings to you the unheard voices from the open prisons of Rajasthan. The page is curated

19/08/2026

Who cooks behind prison walls and what does the kitchen reveal about prison administration?

Data obtained through our RTI appplications offers a closer look at prison kitchens across India.
Among 262 prisons that provided usable data, 66.41% reported engaging undertrial prisoners in kitchen labour. The data also raises questions around nutritional monitoring, transparency in labour allocation and the safeguards governing undertrial work.
A prison kitchen is more than a place where food is prepared. It is a space where labour, legality, welfare and dignity intersect.

18/08/2026

Does a life sentence always mean spending the rest of one's life in prison?

Premature release is not simply about counting years served. Recent judgments of the Bombay High Court at Goa emphasise that when remission is considered, authorities must look beyond the offence itself and assess the prisoner's conduct, reformation, rehabilitation and prospects of reintegration into society.

The seriousness of an offence cannot, by itself, become the sole reason for denying premature release. As the Court observed, remission is concerned with the prisoner's present and future, not merely their past.

These judgments reaffirm an important principle of correctional justice: the purpose of imprisonment must leave room for the possibility of reform.

Source: Rohan P. Pai Dhungat v. State of Goa; Shankar Tiwari v. State of Goa; Jovita Ryan Dos. Remedios Pinto v. State of Goa, Bombay High Court at Goa, 13 July 2026.

11/08/2026

Behind prison walls lies a complex system of people, responsibilities and institutions that extends far beyond security and custody. From the Superintendent overseeing prison administration to warders ensuring day-to-day supervision, medical professionals addressing health needs and welfare officers supporting prisoners’ social and personal concerns, each role contributes to the functioning of a prison.
This carousel takes a closer look at the people and structures that keep correctional institutions running, and the responsibilities that extend beyond confinement towards welfare, reform and rehabilitation.

https://www.instagram.com/openprisonvoices/?hl=en
https://youtu.be/ljw_A041lAs
https://www.paar.org.in/

07/08/2026

Behind every prison workshop, bakery, farm, and tailoring unit lies a larger story of reform. Prison wages are not simply a form of remuneration. They acknowledge the dignity of labour, encourage skill development, and strengthen the foundations of rehabilitation. This carousel explores what Prison Statistics India 2024 tells us about prison work, wages, and the evolving philosophy of correctional justice in India.

05/08/2026

The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-Custodial Measures (the Tokyo Rules) represent a global commitment to making criminal justice more humane, balanced, and effective. By encouraging alternatives such as probation, community service, parole, and other non-custodial measures, the Rules recognise that imprisonment should be a measure of last resort rather than the default response to crime. As prison systems across the world grapple with overcrowding and the challenge of rehabilitation, the Tokyo Rules continue to provide an important framework for promoting reintegration, protecting human dignity, and advancing a correctional system that prioritises reform alongside accountability.

30/07/2026

PAAR recently conducted the PAAR AI Chatbot -First Pilot Initiative in collaboration with WBNUJS, marking an important milestone in leveraging technology to enhance access to prison-related information. The workshop introduced participants to PAAR's new initiative, the WhatsApp-based AI chatbot through a live demonstration and an interactive question-and-answer session. The valuable feedback and insightful queries shared by the participants will contribute to the chatbot's continued refinement and development. We sincerely thank all the participants, faculty members, and organisers for making the initiative a meaningful step towards strengthening digital outreach and advancing access to justice through accessible legal information.
https://www.instagram.com/openprisonvoices/?hl=en
https://youtu.be/ljw_A041lAs
https://www.paar.org.in/

29/07/2026

Prison is not the only path to justice. For low-risk and first-time offenders, alternatives such as probation, community service, bail, parole, and conditional release can promote accountability while supporting rehabilitation and reducing prison overcrowding. The India Justice Report 2025 highlights the need to strengthen these non-custodial measures as part of a more humane and effective criminal justice system. By prioritising rehabilitation where appropriate, alternatives to incarceration protect individual dignity, optimise correctional resources, and contribute to safer communities, while ensuring that imprisonment remains a measure of last resort rather than the default response.
https://www.instagram.com/openprisonvoices/?hl=en
https://youtu.be/ljw_A041lAs
https://www.paar.org.in/

28/07/2026

Mental health is a fundamental human right that does not end at the prison gates. The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 represents a significant shift in India's correctional framework by recognising the psychological well-being of prisoners as an essential component of rehabilitation. From guaranteeing access to quality mental healthcare and safeguarding dignity to providing specialised treatment for prisoners with mental illness and strengthening su***de prevention measures, the Act places a legal duty on prison authorities to ensure humane care. A truly progressive correctional system is one that not only secures its institutions but also protects the minds, dignity, and hope of those in its custody.
https://www.instagram.com/openprisonvoices/?hl=en
https://youtu.be/ljw_A041lAs
https://www.paar.org.in/

22/07/2026

Premature release is more than an administrative decision. It reflects the balance between justice, accountability, and the possibility of human reform. India's legal framework, supported by constitutional provisions and landmark Supreme Court judgments, recognises that every case must be assessed with fairness, transparency, and public interest in mind. Factors such as rehabilitation, prison conduct, societal impact, and the likelihood of reoffending guide this process, ensuring that remission is neither arbitrary nor automatic. A humane correctional system does not simply determine when a sentence ends; it determines when an individual is truly prepared to return to society as a responsible citizen.
https://www.instagram.com/openprisonvoices/?hl=en
https://youtu.be/ljw_A041lAs
https://www.paar.org.in/

21/07/2026

Yoga has emerged as a valuable component of prison rehabilitation, offering far more than physical exercise. Across prisons in India, regular yoga and meditation programmes are helping inmates manage stress, improve emotional well-being, cultivate self-discipline, and develop a positive outlook towards life. Supported by prison administrations, NGOs, and wellness organisations, these initiatives demonstrate that rehabilitation begins with nurturing both the mind and the body. As correctional systems increasingly embrace holistic approaches to reform, yoga serves as a powerful reminder that meaningful transformation is achieved not only through security and discipline, but also through healing, resilience, and hope.

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