Prison needs both security and reform, says Gomes

The recent reports surrounding Goa’s Central Jail at Colvale are “deeply disturbing”, former Inspector General of Prisons Elvis Gomes said, stressing that imprisonment must go beyond confinement to correction, reform and eventual reintegration into society. “A prisoner loses his liberty as punishment for an offence, but he does not cease to be a human being,” he said.
However, Gomes said there could be no compromise on security.
“There can be no justification for drugs, mobile phones, contraband or organised criminal activity operating from within a correctional institution,” he said. “When such incidents occur, we must ask not only who violated the rules, but also how the security system permitted the violation to occur.”
Recalling his tenure, Gomes said preliminary intelligence had revealed “the rampant use of mobile phones, partying among inmates and bullying of new entrants, with the apparent collusion of some officials”. He said a raid at Sada Sub-Jail resulted in the seizure of more than 17 mobile phones and around 30 SIM cards. The incident, he said, reinforced his belief that institutional discipline could not be maintained when those entrusted with enforcing it compromised the system.
Gomes said prison security also depended on adequate infrastructure and proper prisoner classification. He expressed concern over the non-construction of the Sada Sub-Jail and the continued closure of the Mapusa and Margao judicial lock-ups.
“My greatest concern today is the non-construction of the Sada Sub-Jail after the earlier structure was demolished. The Mapusa and Margao judicial lock-ups also need to be brought back into operation,” he said.
He said adequate facilities were necessary for prisoner classification, segregation and periodic movement to prevent the formation of undesirable groups and networks. “Equally important, those serving sentences and those awaiting trial should not be unnecessarily mixed,” Gomes said.
He also advocated professional training, accountability, education, vocational training, counselling and rehabilitation. “A prison needs both security and reform,” he said.
Gomes said the concerns at Colvale should lead to a comprehensive review covering “security, staffing, intelligence, technology, prisoner classification, rehabilitation and accountability”.
“The prisoner will one day return to society. Our responsibility is to ensure that when that day comes, he returns not as a greater threat, but as a better human being.”