While local committees were being appointed by the state governments to suggest prison reforms, the government of India invited technical assistance in this field from the United Nations. Dr W C Reckless, a UN Expert on correctional work, visited India during the years 1951-52 to study prison administration in the country and to suggest ways and means of improving it. His report 'Jail Administration in India" is another landmark in the history of prison reforms. He made a plea for transforming jails into reformation centers and advocated establishment of new jails. He opposed the handling of juvenile delinquents by courts, jails, and police meant for adults. He also advocated the detention of the persons committed to the prison custody and for their reformation and rehabilitation. The revision of outdated jail manuals and introductions of legal substitutes for short sentences were recommended by him.

The Government of India appointed the All India Jails Manual Committee to prepare a model prison manual. The Committee was also asked to examine the problems of prison administration and to make suggestions for improvements to be adopted uniformly throughout the country. The report of the All India Jails Manual Committee and the model Prison Manual prepared and presented by that Committee to the Government of India in the year 1960 are commendable documents on Prisons. They not only enunciated principles for an efficient management of prisons but also lay down scientific guidelines for corrective treatment of prisoners. While laying down the guiding principles for prison management, the committee wrote " the institution should be a centre of correctional treatment, where major emphasis will be given on the reduction and reformation of the offender. The impacts of institutional environment and treatment, shall aim at producing constructive changes in the offender, as would be having profound and lasting effects on his habits, attitudes, approaches and on his total values of life." The Jail Manual Committee's major recommendations touched upon the following aspects".

• Headquarters organization.
• Diversification of institutions based on sex, age, criminal record, security condition, and treatment.
• Architecture and building.
• Accommodation.
• Constitution of Advisory boards.
• Recruitment, selection and training of prison personnel.
• Discipline.
• Basic facilities.
• Daily routine and education of prisoners.
• Vocational training.
• After care and rehabilitation.
• Categorization of prisoners (i.e. UTP, women, life convicts, habitual offenders, lunatics, juveniles etc.).