Chapter V DUTIES OF PRISON OFFICERS AND STAFF

Functions and duties of the officer-in-charge-

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of the Act and the rules made thereunder or under orders and directions of the Head of the Prisons and Correctional Services, the officer in-charge of a prison shall manage the prison in all matters including expenditure, admission or release of prisoners, security of the prison, correctional programmes, allowing visitors inside the prison, discipline, punishment and control of prisoners, with the aid and assistance of other subordinate officers and staff.
2. (2) The officer-in-charge shall be responsible for the proper upkeep of the prison and all equipment and machinery, etc., of the prison under his charge.
3. (3) The officer-in-charge shall be responsible for the safe custody of all documents or records, including records in electronic format in his care and for the money and other articles taken from prisoners. He shall also perform such other duties and discharge such other functions as may be prescribed under the rules.
4. (4) The Officer-in-charge of a prison shall exercise such disciplinary powers as assigned to him under the Act or as prescribed under the rules, for regulation of prisoners, maintaining prison discipline and proper management of the prison, including High Security Wards.

Medical Officer- There shall be a medical officer for every prison. If the post of medical officer is vacant, then the medical officer or the doctor in-charge of the nearest Government Hospital or the resident medical officer of the District Civil Hospital may act as the medical officer of the prison.

Duties of other prison officers and staff- All other prison officers and staff shall discharge their duties based on the functions and responsibilities assigned to them, as prescribed under the rules.

Exercise of powers of the officer-in-charge and Medical Officer in their absence- All or any of the powers and duties of an officer-in charge or a medical officer may, in his absence, be exercised and performed by such other officers, as the competent authority or the Head of the Directorate of Prisons and Correctional Services may prescribe.

Prison officers and staff not to have business dealings with prisoners or interest in prison contracts- No prison officer or staff shall have any business dealings with any prisoner or any relative or friend of a prisoner, directly or indirectly, nor shall he have any business dealings with any prison or jail institution or have any interest, direct or indirect, in any contract for supply of provisions or any other article to the prison nor shall he derive any benefit, directly or indirectly, from the sale or purchase of any such provisions or articles.

Staff Welfare Staff Welfare- The Head of Prisons and Correctional Services may establish a staff welfare wing to aid and advise the Government in the implementation of welfare measures for prison officers and staff.