The Vellore Central Prison, set up in 1830 A.D. is another historically important land mark as some eminent personalities and freedom fighters like Rajaji, C.N.Annadurai, Kamaraj, the former presidents of India V. V. Giri, R. Venkataraman and other political leaders like Vaiko, had served their prison terms here. This Prison was constructed during the year 1867. The total area of this Prison is 153 acres. The authorised accommodation is 2130. The architectural design of this Prison is radial blocks with tower.
This Prison started functioning from 15.04.1836. This is a pioneering Institution in the country started for the welfare of women. This Prison was originally named as Presidency Jail for Women Prisoners. The area occupied by this Prison is 13.62 acres. The authorised accommodation is 412. This Prison is managed by Women Officers and staff. There is a nursery and crèche available in this Prison to look after the welfare of the children accompanying the Prisoners.
Largest Jail in the vellore
Convicts sentenced to imprisonment are confined in the jail from various districts of the Presidency as well as from Burma. Many prisoners sentenced to transpiration by the courts of this Presidency are retained when considered physically unfit for deportation to Andaman. The expenditure in the jail is recovered by the value of the convict labour.
The chief industry carried out in the jail is weaving. A great variety of clothes of variouspatterns as well as table clothes, gunnies, choir mats. The manufacture was first taught to the convicts by a carpet weaver of Ellore. The fabrics are excellently woven and find ready sale in England. Carpentry, shoe making,iron and brass work and tent making are also carried on and the prison is well worth a visit. By extreme hard work and good conduct, convicts may earn a remission not exceeding 1/6th of the total period of imprisonment awarded them.
Warders Training Centre
There is a Warders Training Centre at Vellore which conducts 6 months training for Grade II Warders. This Institute also imparts in-service training to Grade I & II Warders. This training centre imparts training in the handling of Modern Weapons, drill and management of Prisons with emphasis on Human Rights. The in-service includes training in Karate & Ninja, Commando, Un-armed combat, Bomb disposal, PSO Temporary Warders training centre at Trichy and Coimbatore started to the train the newly recruited warders.
There is a Regional Institute of Correctional Administration at Vellore for imparting training to officers. This institute is jointly managed by four Southern States viz. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Kerala. The object of this institute is to have trained officers in the correctional service who can be able to rehabilitate, re-socialize and reintegrate the offenders in the community effectively.
