First Central Prison was established at Kannur in the year 1869. First District Jail was established at Kozhikode in the year 1861. First Open Prison was established at Nettukaltheri, Trivandrum on 28th August 1962. First Women’s Prison was established at Neyyattinkara, Trivandrum in the year 1990. The first Inspector General was appointed on 01-04-1953 in order to be independent in the discharge of function as per the provisions in the Prisons Act for the purpose of the Act. The Prisons Headquarters/ Office of the Inspector General of Prisons was sanctioned with effect from 01-04-1953. Since 1986 officers from the Police Department are being appointed to act as Inspector General of Prisons. In September 1975 the Administrative control of Social Welfare Institutions and the Probation services was transferred to the Social Welfare Department.