The Department of Prisons is focusing on implementing a system of house arrest instead of imprisoning those convicted of minor offences.
Prisons Commissioner Thushara Upuldeniya handed over the project proposal in connection with this as a solution to minimize congestion in prisons, to Minister of Justice Ali Sabry, PC during his visit to Jaffna Prison recently.
The implementation of this system will reduce the number of people imprisoned for minor offences, which will save the Government a lot of money. Detainees who fail to pay fines are imprisoned and lose their sources of income, leaving the detainee’s family members in a difficult position.
Individuals convicted of minor offenses are detained in their own homes for a specified period of time while prison officials monitor the inmate’s whereabouts and activities with a special chip implanted on the prisoner’s ear, arm or leg using GPS technology.
Also, the person will have the opportunity to leave the house only for limited activities such as health needs, employment and previously approved activities.
The chip system is used in developed countries as a solution to prison congestion as well as a successful correctional method instead of imprisonment for minor offences. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (The Tokyo Rules) also promote such options.
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