The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, on Monday, passed the A.P. Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, 2026, giving effect to reforms initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), including structural changes and the adoption of technological advancements in the administration of prisons. 

Making a statement on the Bill, Home Minister V. Anitha said it would incorporate all the changes experienced in prison administration over the last 125 years in the areas of philosophy of reforms and their management.

The Bill would help ensure technological advancements in prison administration and introduce stringent punishments for the use of mobile phones in prisons. 

Besides, the Bill would facilitate more steps for the welfare of the staff of prisons and the prisoners. 

Ms. Anitha pointed out that the prisons in Andhra Pradesh were largely governed by the Prisons Act of 1894 and the Prisoners Act, 1900.

She observed that the Acts framed over 100 years ago were primarily punitive in nature.

As many social changes took place in the 125 years since those laws were enacted, and there has been a paradigm shift in the concepts of human rights, a shift in the approach to crime and punishment, and recognition of the rights of prisoners in line with international treaties and agreements during the period, the government felt the need to revise the laws accordingly. 

Also, those laws have not kept pace with modern evolutionary concepts of reform, rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners into society.

Taking the whole gamut of things into consideration, including the growing use of new technological tools in ​​prison security (like biometric systems, CCTV surveillance, scanning and tracing devices, radio frequency identification devices and video conferencing), and obsolescence of the Transfer of Prisoners Act, 1950, the MoHA framed the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 to enable the States to implement the provisions with necessary modifications and additions, because the administration of prisons were  under the State List as per the Constitution. 

Hence, the Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to enact the new law titled AP Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2026 as per the draft law prepared by the MoHA.

The new legislation proposed to repeal the existing Prisons Act of 1894, the Prisoners Act, 1900 and the Transfer of Prisoners Act, 1950.

Ms. Anitha said greater emphasis was being given to bringing about a behavioral and psychological change in prison inmates through various welfare measures.

“The government has planned to set up special Anganwadi centres in prisons to take due care of the female inmates and their children,” she said. 

Open-air prisons were set up to facilitate the mental well-being of inmates and provide them opportunities to engage in agriculture and other vocational trades.

Regarding the remission of prisoners, she said the government has always been sympathetic to the plight of those languishing in jails for long periods.