Sh. Virbhadra Singh, Honourable Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh launched the HP Prisons Web-portal on 26th July 2013 at Shimla. The web-portal, http://hpprisons.nic.in has been developed by the Department of Prisons and Correctional Administration. Sh. Virbhadra Singh also launched the Online VC facility for the relatives of Jail Inmates who can interact with the prisoners through NIC Video Conference Interface. A VC was arranged during the inaugural session from District Jail at Dharamshala, Kangra. The relative was at District Chamba. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister hoped that this initiative, which is the first of its kind in the country, will result in savings of money and time of the relatives and even foreign based relatives can make use of this facility, which has huge socio-economic impact.

Sh. Sudripta Roy, Chief Secretary Himachal Pradesh, Sh. P. Mitra, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Sh. V.C. Pharka Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. S.R. Mardi, Additional Director General of Police, Dr. Saurabh Gupta, State Informatics Officer NIC Himachal Pradesh and officers of different Departments were present during the inaugural session.

Sh. S.R. Mardi, ADG Prisons emphasized that with time, the aims and objectives of Prisons Department have undergone change from retribution and deterrence to correction and rehabilitation. The Department has initiated reforms with the objective to facilitate inmates, by launching the HP Prisons Web Portal. All data related to prisoners has also been made online. The ePrisons software has been implemented in all Prisons of the State and linked to the Police, Courts and Forensics through inter-operable Criminal Justice System (iCJS).

There is an interface on the Prisons portal for making online requests by relatives of Jail inmates. After confirmation of request, a code is sent to the relatives for making the VC connection at the slotted time and date. This initiative is a new service of its kind. The web-portal has information about the products being produced in the prisons, the standard documents list, prison infrastructure details, contacts, functions etc.

The web-portal has been designed and  developed by NIC Himachal Pradesh and hosted on NIC web-servers.