The prison reform committee, led by ADGP R. Hitendra, warned Home Minister G. Parameshwara that Parappana Agrahara central prison is close to systemic failure. The review came after viral videos showed inmates receiving special treatment. The committee also studied prisons in Mysuru, Shivamogga, Ballari, and Kalaburagi, comparing them with Tihar jail in Delhi and Telangana's Chanchalguda prison. Parappana Agrahara holds 4,834 inmates but has only 571 staff members, with 388 posts vacant. This creates a prisoner-to-staff ratio of 9 to 1, far above the recommended 6 to 1. Per shift, one officer manages nearly 30 inmates. Other central jails also fall short on safety. Mysuru has 774 inmates with 133 staff, Ballari has 457 inmates and 93 staff. The panel called for immediate hiring, compulsory staff rotation every three years with a two-year break, and yearly training programs. The committee found mobile phones are smuggled into prisons unchecked since current jammers can't block 5G signals. It recommended new 5G-compatible jammers, portable jammers for blind spots, and strict control under the Chief Superintendent. From January 2021 to November 2025, 154 FIRs related to illegal prison activities in Bengaluru remain unresolved. The prison’s infrastructure is weak, with low watchtowers, short boundary walls under 20 feet, and no buffer zones. The report suggests raising walls to 30 feet, adding anti-throwing nets, solar fencing, and taller watchtowers. Surveillance is poor with only 332 CCTV cameras covering 6.6% of inmates, compared to over 8,600 at Tihar. Toilets lack visual coverage. The committee wants 24/7 monitoring, AI cameras, body cams for staff, and a central control room. Delayed construction in Shivamogga, Vijayapura, and others worsens overcrowding. There is also a lack of vocational training, poor segregation of inmates, weak internal intelligence, and unauthorized parcels entering prisons. Meetings of Prison Visitor Boards are irregular. Officials say the report misses key human resource issues. Lack of transparency in staff transfers and no Prison Establishment Board reduce discipline and accountability. A board like the police establishment board could improve staffing and reduce corruption. A senior source said, “Posting the right person in the right position through a structured and transparent process would address many of the problems faced by the prison department across the state.” Mr. Hitendra was unavailable for comments.