THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The number of first-time offenders sent for probation has gone up in Kerala with the social justice department deciding to implement the Probation of Offenders Act 1958 strictly.
The Act aims at social rehabilitation of first-time offenders under the watch of a district probation officer. Last month, there were 165 probation inquiries issued in the state. As per Prison Statistics 2015, the occupancy rate at prisons in the country is 114.4 per cent, and the total number of undertrials is 67.2 per cent.
Former member of Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights J. Sandhya feels enforcing the Act will help control overcrowding at jails.
“This Act was a long forgotten one, and the decision of the government to enforce this is a commendable move as it will help many first-time offenders,” said Ms Sandhya.
“I feel the government must bring in amendments in the Act and bring undertrial prisoners who are first-time offenders too under it.”
However, an inadequate number of probation officers is a major challenge for the department.
“Thirteen of the 40 probation officer posts are lying vacant. The courts in the state have started issuing investigation orders for granting probation for such offenders. The probation period will be decided strictly based on the kind of offence,” said special officer (probation), social justice department, Subair K.K.
He said that gradually more vacancies have to be created to ensure adequate strength to implement the Act.
