Punjab government has introduced free shuttle service to families visiting inmates as part of Safe Jail reform being launched by Chief Minister. New Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Home Department seek to provide a dignified and respectful experience to all the visitors in jails across the province.
The SOPs consist of marked car parking places, rooms where cars can be left with security, and the free shuttle service delivering the visitors to the gates of the jail when it is a remote location. Waiting lounges have been renovated with appropriate seating, ventilations, flooring and separate male and female toilets with water, soap, hand sanitizers, functional locks and lights.
There is the addition of air coolers during summer, LED screens carrying jail reform and awareness messages, and a sound system taking visitors through a queue management system. Special seating facilities will be provided to the senior citizens, women and people with disabilities. Children will be provided with free biscuits and candies whereas those visitors would get favoured treatment who are aged 70 or above.
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Trained assistance personnel to receive visitors and immediately deliver items belonging to inmates in labeled baskets must be under assistant jail superintendents. WhatsApp number to file complaints will be displayed in waiting areas so that complaints can be reported directly to the Home Department as well as the IG Prisons. Monitoring teams will have a inspection exercise and failure to comply will result in disciplinary action against jail officials.
This free shuttle service indicates that Punjab is trying to make visitations easier and the environment helpful to the prisoner families.
