With a view to create a sense of responsibility and self-reliance among the prisoners, Prisoners Panchayat Boards are constituted in all Central Prisons (CPs), District Jails (DJs), Prisoners Agricultural Colony (PAC) and Special Prison for Women (SPW). In Central Prisons and Prisoners Agricultural Colony the Board consists of elected convicted prisoners only, while in District Jails and Special Prison for Women it consists of under trail prisoners also.

Convicts who have more than six months sentence to serve are eligible for election to the Board. Prisoners convicted of offences involving moral turpitude like rape, dacoity, robbery etc. are debarred from contesting the election.

The Board is headed by the Superintendent and regularly reviews matters relating to welfare of prisoners i.e. ration, sanitation, recreation etc. Convicts who have more than six months sentence to serve are eligible for election to the Board. Prisoners convicted of offences involving moral turpitude like rape, dacoity, robbery etc. are debarred from contesting the election.