The office of the Inspector General of Prisons was created in December, 1975. Initially, the Director of Health Services (D.H.S) held additional charge of the post and on 23nd February, 1976, regular Inspector General of Prisons was posted. The office of the Inspector General of Prisons functioned from the Main Secretariat building till the year 1993 and then it was shifted to the present location on the Top Floor of Horse Shoe Building, Lower Lachumiere, Shillong.

At present there are five (5) District Jails at Shillong, Tura, Nongpoh, Williamnagar and Jowai