SOPs issued to ensure welfare of prisoners

LAHORE:The Punjab Home Department has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for psychologists working in jails to ensure welfare of prisoners.

Prison reforms are being implemented actively across the province under the directive of Punjab chief minister and accordingly senior and junior psychologists have been appointed in all prisons.

According to the Prison Reforms Policy, mental health centres have been established in every jail where inmates undergo mental health assessments, diagnoses, and counseling. The spokesperson of the Punjab Home Department stated that uniform SOPs have been introduced to evaluate the performance of these initiatives. As per the new SOPs, the psychologists will assess every inmate within 24 hours of their admission to prison.

These experts will categorise inmates based on their criminal history, personality, and nature of offenses using specially designed formats. They will also train prison staff to handle inmates experiencing their mental stress with empathy and professionalism.

He said that efforts are being made to reduce mental stress, prevent suicidal tendencies, and rehabilitate inmates suffering from drug addiction or psychological issues. Documentation of these measures will be maintained in individual prisoner files, he added.

Additionally, the prison psychologists have been included as members of the parole board, tasked with providing risk assessment reports for inmate release. Educated prison wardens will be assigned to assist psychologists in their duties, ensuring effective implementation of these reforms.

He further said that psychologists will provide counseling for violent inmates, conduct weekly assessments of death row prisoners, and organise monthly counseling sessions. Special attention will be given to the mental health of juvenile and female inmates.

The spokesperson emphasised that psychologists will work to improve inmates’ behaviour and rehabilitate them through regular counseling. Monthly assessments and updates on each inmate’s progress will be documented. The psychologists, by serving as advisors to prison administrations, aimed to play a critical role in prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration into society, he added.

9,345 drug peddlers held in 11 months

Lahore Police have arrested 9,345 drug peddlers and booked 9,057 accused in 11 months. According to a police spokesman, police recovered 7,097 Kg cannabis, 407 Kg opium, 263 kg heroin, 163 kg ice and 62,347 litre alcohol from the accused.

Following the directives of Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana, the police conducted operations and arrested the drug peddlers from City division, cantonment division, Civil Lines division, Sadr division, Iqbal Town division, and Model Town division. The CCPO also urged consistent liaison with educational institutions to save the youth from drugs.