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In line with prison reforms:
Jailer to become Rehabilitation Officer
Dharma Sri Abeyratne
The official designation of prison officials will be changed from
Jailer to Rehabilitation Officer so as to reflect the dignity of their
job, Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Minister DEW Gunasekara said.
This step will be taken in accordance with the decision of the 12 member
expert panel appointed by Minister Gunasekara to make recommendations
for prison reforms. The panel consists of 12 experts in various fields
such as legal, prison and educational and solo social scientists.
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Minister DEW Gunasekara |
The expert panel has paid attention on the present situation of the
prisons in the country while going deeply into the four commission
reports which were handed over by four separate commissions earlier to
make changes in the prison sector.
In line with the new reforms, the uniform of prison officials will
also be changed in future and the dress of convicts is also under
consideration to be changed. The present dress of convicts’ which is the
jumper will be replaced by a suitable dress which is being planned.
“The Jumper has been introduced as the dress of convicts more than
150 years ago when the prison system was introduced in 1844. As much as
the jumper, the word ‘Jailer’ was introduced during the colonial era.
The reforms will help to change the bad public impression on the prison
officers and the prison system in the country,” the Minister added.
A performance appraisal system will be introduced to motivate prison
officials. As government officials their dignity and job satisfaction
have to be safeguarded.
Therefore, the Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms Ministry will
conduct special training and scholarship programs for prison officers.
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