President ratifies Prisons and Parole Bill

President Abdulla Yameen has ratified the Prisons and Parole Bill on Monday, 23 December.

The Bill was passed at the 18th sitting of its third session of the Parliament on 16th December and published in the Government Gazette following ratification.

The objective of the Act is to lay down the rules regarding the management of prisons and standards to be maintained by prisons and jails.

The Act defines standards of detention of accused persons, detention persons detained following a court order, detention of persons under the Maldives Immigration Act and rules regarding imprisonment of convicted persons.

The Act also addresses the rights of prisoners and detainees, elaborates on the rights, powers and discretions of jail authorities, defines the eligibility requirements to qualify for parole for purpose of rehabilitation and reintegration of convicts and outlines programs of reintegration of convicts into society.

In addition, the Act also specifies the procedures to be followed in execution of court decisions in respect of detainees and convicts.