Prayas is a pioneering social work demonstration project of the Centre for Criminology and Justice, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, established as a Field Action Project in 1990. Prayas focuses on social work intervention in the criminal justice system: police stations, prisons, courts and institutions for women. A key aspect of their concern is the rehabilitation of persons coming out of crime, and improving their access to legal rights. They promote the use of correctional laws to aid rehabilitation of vulnerable groups, and increase awareness in government and society about issues related to rehabilitation. Prayas reaches out to women and youth undertrial prisons and their families who are in process within the criminal justice system as well as women and girls rescued by the police from sexually exploitative situations.

What excites us about their work:

• Working with underserved populations of undertrial prisoners being processed in the criminal justice to ensure their safety and rights and movement away from crime.
• Building and demonstrating the need for social work intervention in the criminal justice system such as police stations, prisons, courts and institutions for women to assist vulnerable populations.
• Working towards the rehabilitation of persons coming out of or vulnerable to crime, sexual exploitation or destitution, while improving their legal rights.
• Working with the criminal justice system and its actors along with policy and generating knowledge in social work, criminology and law to facilitate legal and rehabilitation justice
• Taking a long term systemic view of rehabilitation along with immediate emergency care and support to build an infrastructure for the vulnerable.