Abstract : Prisons are as old as human civilization. Jails were existed from the time Immemorial. We have plenty of references pertaining to jails across the globe. Even in ancient India jails were existed. The prisons in those days were not used for reforming the culprit by imposing imprisonment, but served only as places of confinement till further action was taken, i.e., execution, mutilation, deportation and so on. With the development of civilization the old methods of punishments were done away and imprisonment was replaced as a means of punishment.