Dr. Walter.C.Reckless, a UN Expert on Correctional Administration, who visited India in 1952 as invited by Government of India to study and report the condition of Jails in India, had recommended in his report 'Prison Administration in India', to organise training programmes for Prison Personnel for the scientific care and treatment of offenders. He had also conducted 6 months training programme for nearly 50 officers selected from different States. It was on the proposal of Sri. A.V.John (first Inspector General of Prisons, Kerala) who had undergone training under Dr. W.C.Reckless that Government of Kerala had ordered to start Jail Training School for 30 warder staff in the premises of Central Prison, Poojappura vide Order No.H(B)3-26972/57 Home (B) Department dated 11/10/1957. The Jail Training School was started under Inspector General of Prisons as Principal and 5 part-time lecturers and a Drill Instructor on allowance of Rs.50/- per month each.
A training course for 6 weeks was provided to 11 officers at Jail Training School from 23/07/1973 to 31/08/1973 as per GO(MS)No.114/73/Home(B)Department, dated 07/07/1973. As per GO(MS) No.17/77/Home(B)Department, dated 14/02/1977 period of training course for Warder Staffs was extended from 3 months to 6 months.
Training programmes were in a stop-go manner till the creation of regular posts as per GO(Rt)No.2644/87/Home(B)Department, dated 31/07/1987 and appointment of Sri. G.Ramachandra Pillai, Assistant Inspector General (CZ), Thrissur as the first Principal of Jail Training School, Thiruvananthapuram.
As per GO(Rt) No.34790/88/Home(B)Department, dated 29/07/1988 Jail Training School was renamed as State Institute of Correctional Administration (SICA). No basic Training Course for officers has been conducted in SICA after 31/07/1995. Six months basic training course syllabus for warder staff has been revised as 9 months as per GO(MS) No.1092/05/Home(B)Department, dated 03/05/2005.
As per GO(MS) No.176/2010/Home(B)Department, dated 31/07/2010 two Regional Extension Centres of SICA were created in premises of Central Prison, Kannur and Viyyur on 02/10/2010 and 11/10/2010 respectively, with the service of competent Prison Officers and guest faculties.
As per GO(MS) No.203/12/Home(B)Department, dated 21/07/2012 the post of Principal, SICA has been upgraded as Deputy Inspector General of Prison and post is redesignated as Deputy Inspector General Prisons (South Zone) and Director, SICA.
As per GO(Rt)No.2834/12/Home(B)Department, dated 22/09/2012, SICA and office of Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (SZ) were shifted to Thevancode annexe of Open Prison, Nettukaltheri on 15/11/2012. The office of Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (SZ) was shifted back to old SICA building at Poojappura and Training Centre (SICA) was retained in the newly constructed building for SICA at Thevancode vide G.O.(MS) No.94/15/Home(B)Department, dated 14/05/2015.
On shifting of Prison Headquarters to the newly constructed 3 storied building on 01.07.2015, SICA at Thevancode and Office of Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (SZ) have been shifted to the old Prison Headquarters, Poojappura.
BPR & D have prepared a Model Prison Manual for conducting basic training to various Prison officers across the country. The basic training conducted at SICA is based on this syllabus.
| Address | Office of the Director, Sica & Deputy Inspector General of Prisons(SZ), Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram, Pin-695012 | Infrastructure Facilities |
| Phone | 0471 - 2345754 |
1. 2 A/C Smart Class Rooms 2. Well-equipped Library 3. Parade ground 4. Computer Lab with 30 computers 5. Hostel for 60 trainees 6. Guest House 7. Mess Hall 8. Conference Hall (A/C) |
| Mobile Number | 9446899503 | |
| dig.sz.prisons@kerala.gov.in | ||
| Distance from Central Railway Station / KSRTC Central Bus Station, Thiruvananthapuram | 3.5 KM | |
| Number of batches of personnel successfully completed the training | 41 batches | 42nd batch is going on |
| Address | Office of Officer in Charge, Sica Extention Centre, Viyyur, Thrissur, Pin - 680010 |
Office of Officer in Charge, Sica Extention Centre, Kannur, Pin - 670005 |
| Phone | 0487 - 2322329 | 0497 - 2749889 |
| sica.vyr.prisons@kerala.gov.in | sica.knr.prisons@kerala.gov.in | |
| Distance from Railway Station | 7 KM | 4 Km |
| Distance from KSRTC Bus Station | 7 KM | 3 KM |
| Number of batches of personnel successfully completed the training |
6 batches Basic training of 7th batch is going on |
7 batches Basic training of 8th batch is going on |
| Infrastructure Facilities |
1. Class Room - 1 No. 2. Parade Ground - 1 No. 3. Hostel for 60 trainees 4. Yoga/Conference Hall |
1. Class Room - 1 No. 2. Parade Ground - 1 No. 3. Hostel for 60 trainees 4. Yoga/Conference Hall (A/C) |
The Committee is constituted to frame, review and update the content and quality of training modules and recommend changes that are required to be made in the curriculum.
| 06.20 AM | Fall in |
| 06.25 AM | Reporting |
| 06.30 AM - 07.10 AM | Physical Training |
| 07.10 AM - 07.20 AM | Change of Uniform |
| 07.20 AM - 07.50 AM | Drill |
| 07.50 AM - 08.00 AM | Rest |
| 08.00 AM - 08.30 AM | Drill |
| 08.30 AM - 09.45 AM | Rest, Breakfast |
| 09.55 AM | Reporting for Indoor Class |
| 10.00 AM - 11.00 AM | First period |
| 11.00 AM - 11.10 AM | Tea break |
| 11.10 AM - 12.10 noon | Second period |
| 12.10 PM - 01.10 PM | Library |
| 01.10 PM - 02.00 PM | Lunch break |
| 02.00 PM - 03.00 PM | Third period |
| 03.00 PM - 03.50 PM | Tea break |
| 03.55 PM | Fall in |
| 04.00 PM - 04.35 PM | Drill |
| 04.35 PM - 04.40 PM | Rest |
| 04.40 PM - 05.15 PM | Drill |
| 05.15 PM - 05.20 PM | Change of uniform |
| 05.25 PM - 06.00 PM | Games |
| 06.00 PM - 09.00 PM | Rest (recreation/ self study/dinner) |
| 09.00 PM | Roll cal |
Karate classes are conducted on Tuesday and Friday evening instead of Drill.
The Basic Training Course for 9 months is designed to impart necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes and exposure required for the newly recruited Assistant Prison Officer.
| Period of training | 9 months |
| Medium of instruction | Malayalam, English |
| Total indoor classes (theory) | 504 hours |
| Total outdoor classes (Practical) | 560 hours |
| Total Library hours | 168 hours |
| Total Games hours | 84 hours |
| Period of placement | 2 months |
| Shramdan | Morning outdoor hours once in a week |
Major Prison Acts & Rules with emphasis on Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services (Management) Act, 2010 and Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services (Management) Rules, 2014.
Click here to view detailed syllabus
Trainee (APOs) are being provided opportunities for placement for a period of 2 months in various Jail Institutions, field visit to allied institutions and study tour to other Indian states so that they can mingle and share knowledge with their counterparts and leading professionals in correctional services and allied fields.