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Probation and Parole in Pak

The document discusses probation and parole systems in Pakistan. It notes that Pakistan inherited its judicial system from British India, including the establishment of reclamation and probation departments in 1927. However, probation and parole services remain underdeveloped. The document outlines the current legislative basis and structure of probation and parole services. It also identifies shortcomings like insufficient funding, lack of multi-agency cooperation, and poor implementation of existing laws. The document concludes with recommendations to strengthen probation and parole in Pakistan through legal and policy reforms, training programs, and pilot projects.

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Aqib Tayyab
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182 views19 pages

Probation and Parole in Pak

The document discusses probation and parole systems in Pakistan. It notes that Pakistan inherited its judicial system from British India, including the establishment of reclamation and probation departments in 1927. However, probation and parole services remain underdeveloped. The document outlines the current legislative basis and structure of probation and parole services. It also identifies shortcomings like insufficient funding, lack of multi-agency cooperation, and poor implementation of existing laws. The document concludes with recommendations to strengthen probation and parole in Pakistan through legal and policy reforms, training programs, and pilot projects.

Uploaded by

Aqib Tayyab
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Probation and Parole in

Pakistan
Zakir Shuaib
Freelance consultant, PRI Associate
[email protected]

www.penalreform.org

@PenalReformInt
Why probation and parole for Pakistan?

• More pre / under trial detentions


• Non existent or traditional rehab services
• Overcrowded prisons
– poor prison management
– dismal health hygiene conditions
– torture and other exploitation
– high risk behaviours
– Increased risk of criminalisation/
extremism
www.penalreform.org
Legislative basis
• Pakistan inherited the Judicial System of the Govt of
British India
– Reclamation & Probation Departments (RPDs)
established in 1927
– Good Conduct Prisoners Probational Release Act
1926
– Sections 380/562/564 Indian Code of Criminal
Procedure
– (All India Probation Bill drafted)
• Only Province of Punjab has its own RPD
• Rest of the provinces established RPDs in 1957

www.penalreform.org
Current legislative basis
• The probation of offenders ordinance 1960/
Rules 1961

• The Good Conduct Prisoner Probational


Release Act of 1926

• Juvenile Justice System


Ordinance 2000/ Rules

www.penalreform.org
Legal provisions for non-custodial
sanctions

– Bail: at the Pre/during trial stage

– Probation/ fines: at the sentencing stage

– Parole: Post sentencing


(during imprisonment)

www.penalreform.org
Structure
Director
Probation and
Reclamation
Deputy
Director

Assistant Assistant
Directors Directors

District
Probation District Parole
Officers Officers

www.penalreform.org
Structure: Province-wise strength staff

Province Director Deputy Asst Probation Parole Officer Total


Dir. Dir Officer

Male Female Male Female

Punjab 1 1 10 53 4 16 4 89

KPK 1 1 0 21 7 2 0 32

Sindh 1 0 2 15 1 14 0 33

Balochistan 1 2 2 7 2 5 1 20

www.penalreform.org
Probation process

SIR prepared and


Offender appears Judge directs PO
presented in
in Court to prepare SIR
Court

Back to Released on probation orders


community probation original issued
supervised by PO sentence
for 1 to 3 year suspended or
postponed Probation denied

successful
No satisfactory completion
change Original sentence Prison
PO violated no more
applicable
Scope of Probation system and limitations

• Extended to offences mostly of minor


nature and first time offenders

• Somewhat discriminatory
– male offenders are less likely to be
released on probation than female

www.penalreform.org
Parole process

Prisoner/family Parole
Committee Home sec on the
/ Govr Prison/ recommendation
PO Appl. Reviewed of PC gives
& advised Home approval
Submit appl. Sec

Employed on Prisoner
Successful
daily wages released on
completion
supervised by parole
the PO Or appl. rejected

No satisfactory
change Prison
License violated
PO violated

www.penalreform.org
Scope of Parole system and limitations

• Restrictions on parolees

– To be employed minimum 45 miles away from


the family

– Can’t live with their families before six month of


parole period.

– No direct access to their monies

– No personal Bank Account

www.penalreform.org
Province-wise data of Probationers
and Parolees
Province Probationers Parolees Total

Male Female Juvenile


Punjab 21510 243 247 150 22150
KPK 1697 33 59 14 1803
Sindh 950 0 ? 50 22 1022
Balochistan 20 0 ? 5 76 101

www.penalreform.org
Positive developments
• Provincial RP Directorates established
• New posts sanctioned/ recruited
• Releases on probation comparatively increased
(particularly of juveniles offenders)
• Probation officer now member of the DCJCC
• Parole Committees established at
provincial level

www.penalreform.org
Areas for improvement
• Insufficient funds allocation
• Inadequate human, material resources and poor
skills development
• Lack of or less-effective multiagency working for
rehabilitation of released P/P
• Insufficient means of communication
(transportation, phone/fax machines)
• Data collection and management

www.penalreform.org
Areas for improvement

• Poor implementation of existing laws


• Lack of interest/confidence of the judiciary and legal
counsel on the existing probation & parole system
• Inadequate training facilities for staff
• Poor coordination among key partners
• No provision of community service in the probation
law

www.penalreform.org
Wider challenges and issues for the
penal system
• Overcrowded prisons
• Lack of political will / not a priority area for Govt.
• Attitudes of Judiciary, Police, Lawyers towards
non custodial sanctions
• Risk of honour killing (particularly-female)
• Inadequate infrastructure facilities
and human resources
• Weak communication infrastructure
www.penalreform.org
Recommendations
• Review of the existing laws to make necessary
amendments/ additions

• Systemic regular training programmes for


probation and parole officer needs to be
included in the annual training calendar of
National Institute of Prison Administration
(NAPA-Lahore)

www.penalreform.org
Recommendations
• Multiagency sensitisation trainings

• Development of database at provincial


directorates for planning and research purposes

• Regular monthly meetings of “DCJCCs” with


effective representation of POs

• Pilot projects needs to be developed


on public private partnerships on
probation / parole

www.penalreform.org
More information can be found at:
www.penalreform.org

And at our stall in the marketplace!

Follow us on Twitter @PenalReformInt

www.penalreform.org

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