Chapter V DUTIES OF PRISON OFFICERS AND STAFF

Functions and duties of 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 Prisons and Correctional Services, the officer-in-charge of a prison shall manage the prison in all matters including admission of prisoners, security of the prison, correctional programs, allowing visitors inside the prison, expenditure, discipline, punishment and control and release 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 equipments 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/records, including records in electronic format, in his care, and for the money and other articles taken from prisoners, and perform such other duties and discharge such other functions as may be prescribed under the rules.
4. (4) 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 may be a medical officer for every prison. If the post of the medical officer is vacant, then the medical officer or the doctor in-charge of the Government Hospital or the resident medical officer of the District Civil Hospital may act as the medical officer of the Sub-Jail or the District or Central Prison, as the case may be.

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

Exercise of powers of 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/Head of Directorate of Prisons may prescribe, either by name or by official designation.

Prison officers and staff not to have business dealings with prisoners and 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/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 & 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.