First probation home opened in Kollam

Thiruvananthapuram: The social justice department has come up with state’s first probation home in Valakom in Kollam to ensure that eligible convicted prisoners are not denied parole because they do not have a residence, 59 years after the rules in this regard were framed.
The probation home, Thanalidam, aims to provide shelter to prisoners who have come out on parole in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak, and have no homes or relatives.
A 59-year old Kottayam native who was released from Viyyur central prison is the first resident of Thanalidam.
Two more persons who have been freed after their imprisonment term have expressed their desire to go to the probation home. At present, the home in Pathanampuram that has been launched in association with Gandhi Bhavan, will accommodate males in the age group of 18 years to 70 years.
Till December 31, 2019, parole applications of 338 prisoners of three central prisons and three women’s prisons were declined because they had no place to go.
For granting parole for convicts, two reports are usually considered — a police report and a report from the probation officer. If report of the probation officer says that they have either no place to reside or that their family members are not ready to accept the convict, they would be denied parole.
According to rule 20 of Kerala probation of offenders’ rules that was finalised and notified in 1960, if the probation officer is of the opinion that the convict seeking parole, early release or has been recommended for probation period does not have a fixed abode or his abode and its circumstances are not suitable for his stay during that period, such persons should be lodged in probation homes.
Though the rules are in force, no such homes were set up by the government leading to many convicts being denied paroles.