The objective of jail inmates’ education should be the socialization of the jail inmates through education. Jail Inmates are a special group who has rights to equitable access to all basic benefits of the society. The ultimate object of education is the return of these jail inmates to society with skills & knowledge. Distance education has traditionally been viewed as ready way for prisoners to access education in correctional centres, delivering course content and resources to prisoners who are unable to undertake traditional face-to-face education (Salane, 2008). This is because conventional institutions do not have special education facilities to reach out to people behind bars. IGNOU and NIOS is offering education to jail inmates through its Study Centres for reaching out to jail inmates.IGNOU announced its initiative ‘Free Education for Jail Inmates’ in 2010 session and waived off fees for all the Jail Inmates. This move has now been a significant milestone in encouraging and rehabilitating Jail Inmates in order to improve their quality of life. IGNOU has established 163 Special Study Centres in Jails at the national level.

KEYWORDS: Open and Distance Learning, Jail Inmates, Special Study Centres, Empowerment.