Prisoners in Punjab can now spend some time with their spouses as the prisons department has begun conjugal visits for inmates from Tuesday, claiming to be the first state to launch such a facility.

Initially, conjugal visits will be allowed at the central jail in Goindwal Sahib, new district jail in Nabha and women’s jail in Bathinda, a senior official of the prisons department said. Hardcore criminals, gangsters, high-risk prisoners and inmates involved in sexual related offences will, however, not be allowed to avail this facility.