officers have to rely on the details of the prisoner mentioned in the court order to verify the identity of the prisoner. The Commission also came across prisons taking the initiative to formulate solutions to establish an efficient record and file management system. An example is the digitalized system at BATRP which was created by a prison officer in 2004. Although the prison stopped utilizing it at some point following its creation, utilization of the system resumed in 2015. The SP of BATRP at the time opined that installing a computer at the entrance itself would enable the inmates’ registration to take place as soon as they are brought to prison. However, he also said that it is difficult to give effect to this due to the lack of officers who know how to use a computer. At WCP, the details obtained upon registration are entered into a computer database, which is not yet fully functional. During officer interviews at the WCP, it was revealed that the database is not yet fully operational mainly due to the lack of officers with the ability and knowledge to use the system. It was also observed that due to the shortcomings in the digital system, WCP maintains its prisoner records manually. In BRP, the Commission observed that it was easy to locate a prisoner as the prison has methodically arranged all prisoner files according to a colour scheme specified for different purposes. There have been certain reported instances where the lack of a proper file management system affected prisoners. During a visit to the ACP, the Commission intervened in the matter of a remandee who alleged he was being detained illegally since he had already posted bail. This was a result of the unavailability of a centralized database in the RC branch because, since the inmate had multiple ongoing cases in different courts, the RC branch had to ensure there were no pending warrants of detention with regards to the inmate in question. This had to be confirmed by calling the various prisons in the localities of the courts, as well as the registrars of courts, in which cases were pending. These procedural delays would have resulted in the continued detention of a person who had posted bail and was eligible for release, which would constitute arbitrary detention. Such incidents demonstrate the need for a centralized database of information of all prisoners, which is also connected to the courts, so that administrative delays in relaying information from the courts to prison is minimised and inmates are not arbitrarily detained in prison. Moreover, the absence of a centralized digital database system hampers the ability of Prison Headquarters to obtain the necessary information of prisoners for various purposes, such as when information regarding prisoners is requested by Ministries such as the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms.72 To overcome this problem the Prison Headquarters issued Circular No. 34/2014 dated 16 August 2014, requiring all prisons to submit all information of prisoners on a monthly basis to the DOP. Thus, all information of prisoners relating to a particular month must be sent to the K Branch of the Prison Headquarters, before the fifth day of the following month, according to the specified structure attached in the said Circular. The approach taken in different prisons to uphold the confidentiality of prisoner records varies. During inspections, it was observed that in ARP only the six officers in the RC Branch 72 Currently the relevant ministry is the Ministry of Justice and Prison Reforms. 61