Principal Secretary (Home) A.R. Anuradha has said that deaths in custody is one of the major issues to be addressed. Recommendations and discussions on prison designs should focus on it. Ms. Anuradha was speaking at the valedictory of national conference on prison design held here on Wednesday.

Ms. Anuradha said: Some prisoners may be addicts of alcohol and drugs and a few may be in a state of depression and at times they resort to the extreme step of ending their lives. What makes a person more ill after he or she comes to a prison? Is it mental stress, cracks on walls, dull light, safety aspect, hygiene conditions? It needs to be studied.

The design of a prison should be in such a way that it should prevent one from ending his or her life, she opined.

Ms. Anuradha said that the department had been making efforts to convert jails into correctional homes and difference can be seen at many places. However, there were a few more recommendations which could be considered by Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D)

Ms. Anuradha also suggested accommodating a de-addiction centre at correctional centres. A library with a good number of books would also helpful. Some 80 delegates took part in the programme.