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Measure To Reform Prisoners By Paving Way Through Rehabilitation

The main aim of reforming the Prisoners through Prison reforms is to transform them into a genuine and law abiding person. Reformation of prisoners predominantly aims to tackle the root cause of the criminal behavior and to extend opportunities for Rehabilitation and Reintegration in the society. Measures to reform criminals may entails multifarious approach which goes beyond punitive actions, the impact of penal actions not only affects the criminals it has immense effect on their family and society as well.

Before the British era the treatment towards the criminals were incorrigible in nature whereas during the British period Criminal Laws came into force still the attitude towards the criminals remained the same that is in punitive form, after Independence there is a change in the attitude towards the criminals, and various committees were enabled from which there was transformation from punitive to therapeutic and corrective measures, presently criminals are employed and provided with wages which might help them to reform inside as well as outside the prison, their mental health is also addressed to reduce their criminal behavior.

Hence the Prison administration has to change along with the society, because of the societal pressure and economic issues people tend to do crimes. So the reformation has to be done to the criminals by the Prison and through the society.

Introduction:
Measures to reform criminals may entails multifarious approach which goes beyond punitive actions, the impact of penal actions not only affects the criminals it has immense effect on their family and society as well. The aim of reforming them through prison reforms is to transform them into a genuine and law abiding person. Reformation of prisoners predominantly aims to tackle the root cause of the criminal behavior and to extend opportunities for Rehabilitation and Reintegration in the society.

Before the British era the treatment towards the criminals were incorrigible in nature whereas during the British period Criminal Laws came into force still the attitude towards the criminals remained the same that is in punitive form, after Independence there was a change in the attitude towards the criminals, and various committees were enabled from The Reckless Report 1951, Mulla Committee, All India Jail Manual Committee and furthermore from which induced the transformation from punitive to therapeutic and corrective measures and gave rise to Alternative punishments, based on their good behavior they are awarded Probation and Parole and now they are also bestowed with learning and acquiring skills to equip them with secure employment.

Criminals are employed and provided with wages which might help them to reform inside as well as outside the prison, their mental health is also addressed to reduce their criminal behavior. Enforcing measures for rehabilitation focuses on Education, Mental health support, Vocational training etc. to reduce their recidivism and so they could reform and rehabilitate.

Using deterrent measures might not prevent crime but it should transform the criminal that is effective only through reformation, whereas the society believes that punishment will enable the people to maintain peace law and order in the state, instead penalization makes the prisoners to undergo torture, cruelty and harassment in prisons which would violate his basic rights. The transformation of criminals will be attained only through reformative measures since crime is linked with the emotional, physical, psychological factors and economical condition of the accused.

Background of Prisons:
In the ancient India people committing an offence were punished brutally by twisting them chopping of their limbs, whipping methods were used, when East India Company invaded India they were least interested in focusing on jail improvements and they followed the method of deterrence, it was under the efforts of Macaulay the criminal laws were formed like IPC came into force.

Later a committee was established in 1836 to report about the conditions of the state of Prison and to recommend steps to imply, whereas this committee recommended steps to eradicate the process of reformation and suggested the prisoners to do hard labour in construction of central prisons which would make the prisoner weary and in order to be released they had to do immense labour, they thought that giving the labour works would make them lose their enjoyment and they would want to run away from those circumstances and they might not indulge in crime again. Later many committees was appointed and various acts came into force to change the conditions of the Prison.

Recommendations of the committees and reports:

  1. Jail committees:

    The second jail committee was established in the year 1864, suggested for better clothing, food and minimal shelter space for the prisoners in the prison and to provide them standard medical check-up for the convicts, the third jail committee was established in the year 1877, it was ineffective but the reports submitted by this committee led to the enforcement of the Prisons Act 1894.
  2. Reckless report:

    Subsequent to the Independence of India the government of India made an initiative to improve the prisons through reforms therefore invited an expert of UNO, Dr. Reckless in the year 1951, to recommend steps for prison administration and policy reforms, he recommended to convert the jails into a reformative centre and submitted his report on the title "Jail Administration in India" and furthermore he also recommended modification in outdated laws Some of his recommendation are as follows;
    • The getting out of juvenile delinquent's from adult criminals.
    • The development of whole time probation and after care services
    • Revision of jail manuals, training programmes for the wardens and superior staff of prisons.
    • Suggested an establishment of an Advisory Bureau for correction administration for care and treatment of juveniles and adult offenders.
    • Establishment of integrated departments in jails, borstals, probation and after care.
  3. Mulla Committee:

    This committee was established in the year 1980 under Justice A.N.Mulla as the chairman in order to conduct a detailed study on the conditions of the prison and to review the laws, rules and regulation and to protect the offenders in rehabilitating and reintegrating into the society.
    • Recommended implementation of education and vocational training programs for prisoners to acquire skills which would help them to secure employment upon the release to reduce their recidivism.
    • Recommended for the establishment of mental health centres and facilities within prison to address their mental health needs of prisoners to include counselling, therapy sessions for inmates who are struggling with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder issues.
    • Thirdly they proposed the expansion of visitation rights of prisoners, to allow more visits from friends and family to maintain prisoner's mental health and well-being to reduce the feeling of isolation.
    • They recommended the adoption of restorative justice practices to help offenders take responsibility for their actions and make amends to the victims of crime by way of mediation, communication, community service and through compensation.
    • Recommended the establishment of an independent body, to monitor and evaluate the condition of prisons regularly. To empowered to investigate the complaints from prisoners and ensure that their rights and dignity are protected.
    • They also recommended the government to provide enough funds and resources for prison reforms.
    • This committee also suggested to implement modernization of prisons in India by protecting the society through rehabilitation of offenders.
       
  4. Krishna Iyer Committee:

    In the year 1987 the Government of India appointed this committee under Justice Krishna Iyer to carry out a study on the issues and difficulties faced by the women prisoners in India.
    • They recommended enormous women police force in order to control child and women offenders.
    • This committee also highlighted the need for the better facilities and support for women and child convicts in the prison system.
       
  5. Malimath committee:

    This committee deals with reforms in criminal justice system, it was constituted in the year 2003 and reviewed under Justice V.S Malimath, consisting 150 reform measures.

Some of the suggestions made by the committee are as follows:
  • They suggested the borrowing of inquisitorial system from Germany and France where the courts should be given authority to call anyone to represent for the questioning if it is deemed necessary.
     
  • The committee recommended that there should be a schedule for the code consisting the rights of the accused to be published in all languages so that accused are aware of their rights.
     
  • They recommended to provide justice to the victims of crime to be compensated adequately and to establish a statute for victim compensation, in case if the victim is unable to afford the expense of the case to represent in the court, they should appoint a legal representative.
     
  • Malimath committee also recommended arrears of eradication schemes to deal with the cases which are endured for more than 2 years and a committee should be established, these cases to be dealt by the Lok Adalat and no adjournment should be provided to these cases.
     
  • They also recommended to improve the quality of police investigation.
From the Mulla committee various committees have been established and recommended various reforms whereas most of them haven't been implemented the Supreme Court and the High Courts have been emphasizing recommendations again and again yet the Government has turned blind and deaf to these reforms where prisoners are the ones who lack correctional in reformative treatment.

International legislations:
When discussing the reformation of criminals in Prison from an international perspective, there isn't a specific set of case laws like in traditional legal systems. Instead, various international human rights treaties and conventions address the rights of prisoners and standards for their treatment. These include:
  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Article 5 states that "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." This principle encourages efforts to ensure humane treatment and rehabilitation of prisoners.
     
  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Article 7, 10 emphasizes the freedom from inhumane degrading treatment or punishment and inherent dignity of individuals deprived of their liberty and calls for the treatment of prisoners with respect for their humanity.
     
  • Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT): The treaty prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, which includes the obligation to provide rehabilitation for victims of torture.
     
  • Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMR): Also known as the Nelson Mandela Rules, these guidelines outline principles for the treatment of prisoners, including provisions for education, vocational training, and rehabilitation programs.

While these international instruments provide frameworks for the treatment and reformation of prisoners, specific cases and interpretations may vary across different jurisdictions and contexts. Additionally, countries may have their own domestic laws and practices governing the reformation of criminals in their own state.

Case laws:
While there aren't specific case laws regarding the reformation of criminals in Prison on an International perspective, individual countries may have relevant cases that illustrate principles of rehabilitation and reformation within their legal systems. Here are a few examples from different jurisdictions:
  • R v. Smith (UK): This case highlights the importance of rehabilitation in sentencing. The Judge may consider a defendant's potential for rehabilitation and may impose a sentence that includes provisions for treatment, education, or other programs aimed at reforming the individual.
     
  • Roper v. Simmons (U.S.A.): In this example, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that executing individuals who were under 18 at the time of their crimes violated the Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. The decision reflected evolving standards of decency and recognized the potential for rehabilitation and change, particularly in young offenders.
     
  • Minister of Correctional Services v. Wesenhagen (South Africa): This case addressed the rights of prisoners to access rehabilitation programs and highlighted the obligation of correctional authorities to provide opportunities for inmates to reform and reintegrate into society.
     
  • Bouamar v. Belgium: this case emphasized the right of prisoners to have access to rehabilitation programs and education opportunities during their incarceration, emphasizing the importance of reformation in the context of human rights.

These cases illustrate how the principles of rehabilitation and reformation are integrated into different legal systems and underscore the importance of considering the potential for change and redemption when dealing with individuals who have committed crimes.

Indian legislations:
The Constitution of India:
It is the Supreme law of the land the fundamental rights are granted to all the citizens of India these rights are also available to the prisoners as well, such as:

Article 14- provides the right to be treated equally, Article 19-providing protection on rights like freedom of speech and expression, Article 21-granting protection of life, liberty and personal security to the prisoners, right to privacy, right against self-incrimination. There are also other rights like right against solitary confinement, and bar fetters, handcuffing, right to health and medical treatment, right to speedy trial. Right to legal aid under article 39A in DPSP etc. in the Case of:
  1. State of Andhra Pradesh v/s Challa Ramkrishna Reddy: It was held that the Fundamental Rights are entitled to the Prisoners as well, unless it's curtailed by the Constitution.
     
  2. Sunil Batra v/s Delhi administration: The Court held that solitary confinements should be granted only in exceptional cases where the prisoner would cause violence or nature is severe, they should be separated only when it's necessary. And also pointed that confining in bar fetters would lead to worsen the mental health of the prisoner besides it is a dehumanising treatment.

Rights to Privacy:
It is a most significant right which is granted to the citizens this right falls under the right to life and liberty which also available to the prisoners this right to privacy can be available during the process of search and seizure were its does not cause any harm to the individuals property and hence its not violative of Article 19(1)(f). The right to privacy of prisoners is dealt in the case of Rahmath Nisha v. Additional Director General of Prisoner and Others.

Where the accused was granted leave to visit his wife due to severe illness by the time they reached home along with the police escort his wife was in ICU but They neglected to accompany the accused to visit his wife in the hospital , it was held in the Madras High Court that the prisoner can be allowed to visit his wife in hospital without being monitored, since they would share emotional bonds and physical expression so they should be granted right to privacy and should be treated with dignity.

Right to Speedy Trial:
The right to speedy trial is guaranteed to all the prisoners it is considered to be a main part of criminal justice system, every accused has the right to speedy trial without any delay or pendency it is under the Crpc section 309, it is a human right, it violates the right of an individual if it is delayed as per it is said that, justice delayed is justice denied. In case of Hussainara Khatoon v. Home Secretary, St of Bihar, 1979 it was stated that the State has to provide legal assistance to the prisoners inorder to ensure their safety and safeguard their rights to fair and speedy trial.

Right to Health:
Every individual has the right to health it is guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution that every person should possess to achieve a standard of physical and mental health in the case of Rasikbhai Ramsing Rana v. State of Gujarat stated that every person is guaranteed the right to basic medical health in this case it was also held that the jail authorities have to take proper physical and mental heath of the accused if they are suffering from any illness or disease and they also declared the guidelines to the Central and District Jails to have required trained medical professionals and sufficient equipments to treat the prisoners.

The prisoners also have other rights such as right to publication, right to education inside the prison, right to reasonable wages for the work done in the prison, and other rights such as right to bail, right to basic amenities, right to leave and furthermore.

Distinctive treatment towards the Young Offenders and Women:
Young offenders are the juveniles who are in conflict with law, it is easy to corrupt the minds of young offenders. They need more care. They should be segregated from the adult and habitual offenders in order to safeguard and to prevent influence from them. They should be given a chance to reform them through education, and providing vocational training to them, and the root cause which caused them to commit crime has to be analyzed and they should be treated to overcome those causes.

Women are another weaker section they are also equally capable to commit crime yet they are the victims of custodial rape and forced to remain silent, they should be granted safeguarded and provide required facilities to them, like separate prisons, prenatal and postnatal care for the infant and the mother and to provide better care to them.

In the case of Sheela Barse v. State of Maharashtra:
It is the landmark case for separation of men and women prisoners, the PIL was filed by the journalist when she interviewed 15 women prisoners in Bombay, were 5 of them were subjected to torture and assault in the police custody, the court ordered to provide segregation of prisons ,to provide them safety and sanitation, food and health facilities, to setup a national authority for legal aid, medical checkup especially for pregnant women and to make sure that the child's place of birth should not be registered as Prison.

To guarantee compliance, the Court further ordered specific Judges to make unannounced visits to police detention facilities. The aforementioned case highlighted the criticality of safeguarding the rights of inmates, particularly those who are women and created standards for compassionate and legal assistance in the criminal judicial system.

Major issues faced in the Prison:

There is an immense lack in administration of Prisons in India, the Government neglect to facilitate the prisons with basic amenities and infrastructure, compared to the Prison administration in Norway the Prison system in India is extremely far behind.

Firstly Corruption: it is a prominent problem in the prison in India, it has consequences on both the prisoners and the staff, even when a guest visits the prisoners they corrupt the itineraries which are brought by them. To have frequent calls or if they need anything from the police staff, even the prisoners bribe them. In order to obtain special treatment of the prison inmates they bribe the staff in prison.

Overcrowding in Prison: it's a most prevalent issue in Auburn system in order to reduce overcrowding they introduced a system of ticket to leave to evacuate the prisoners and release on condition which forms the basis of present day parole, in India it is a tremendous issue which simultaneously resulting in lack of sleep ill health, lack of hygiene, causing self-harm and disputes among the prisoners since they lack space, it also forces the staffs to put pressure to the prisoners since it becomes hard to handle overcrowding and treat them brutally and this causes spreading of diseases and infections due to overcrowding.

Delay of Under Trial: there are enormous under trial prisoners who are waiting for their sentence, but it is delayed they are neglected, from the statistics of National Crime Records Bureau 67.2 % of the population is trial prisoners. They serve longer sentence in Prison than their actual sentence.

Shortage of Staffs in Prison: the Prison System is not funded properly nor they have required number of staffs, the violence in Prison are more and they lack oversight and security.
 Under the Prisoner's Act 1900, there should be a law officer and a welfare officer yet these vacancies are vacant. In the Prison in India there are one guard for every 100 prisoners whereas the UK Prisons consists of 2 guards for 3 prisoners in this circumstance it easy to analyze the activities of prisoners and to treat them to retain from violent actions.
Inhumane conditions of the Prison: the prison system in India are inhumane in nature when it comes to the living condition, the cells are cramped, there no sanitation facilities no ventilation in the cells to breathe fresh air, quality of the food is worse and they lack resources as well.

Torture and abuse of prisoners- the prisoners are objected to torture, from the investigation process to extort confessions till the prison, in order to vest the power and superiority of the jailers and guards by which they would make the convicts to follow their orders and commands. There are physically and mentally abused due to custodial torture.

Pendency of cases in Prison- there are almost 80,000 cases are pending in the Supreme Court, it is pending due to procedural delays, complexity of the case, weak enforcement of Court orders, due to these pendency not only the prison system is affected even the prisoner under trail convicts are also affected as well.

Dominion nature of outdated laws: the Criminal Laws were created during the Colonial era in terms of their procedure and substantiveness, the years has been passed as per modern era the laws has to be changed from deterrent towards reformative measure.
The Root causes which provoked the individuals to indulge in Crime:

There are many reasons why people commit crimes, like Individual factors and Social factors, though there has been immense improvement in the safety and security department, yet criminals don't seem to pull their getaway from it. However, the weirdest thing in the criminal world is that every day unfolds a new reason as to why people dive in this field.

Criminologists examined a variety of variables to determine why someone would commit crimes. Such as Biological, psychological, social, and economic issues were among them. A person who commits a crime typically has several reasons like these.

Some of the common causes to indulge in crime are:
Lack of Resources:
One of the primary causes of crime is Poverty. Crime rates are typically greater in economically deprived nations than in other nations. People engage in illegal activity because it is not only a simple way for them to obtain what they want, but it also does not demand any other essential talents, and they do not have the resources to secure a living in the proper manner.

A growing number of the impoverished are turning to crime as a way of making ends meet, which contributes to the widening gap between the rich and the poor that we are seeing. People become so frustrated with their inability to make enough money to support themselves and their families that they turn to illegal means of subsistence.

Peer Influence:
The impact of peer pressure on the lives of all teenagers and young adults is well-established. During that stage of life, people often look up to their friends and think that what they do is either morally right or, more accurately, Thus, they are forced to follow the trend by peer pressure. These people's inexperience and lack of wisdom have just fueled the flames. Because of this, many young people are inadvertently tempted to illicit behaviors like drinking alcohol and smoking by the way their classmates behave. When peer pressure spreads to illegal substances in addition to booze and cigarettes, the issue becomes out of control

Usage of Drugs:
The primary issue is when individuals develop a drug addiction and think they need the drugs to survive. Drug addicts will stop at nothing to obtain these illicit substances in such a scenario. Over 70,000 Americans lost their lives due to drug overdoses in 2019 alone, according to data gathered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a division of the National Institute of Health in the United States of America. These numbers are concerning. People who are intoxicated and have an inclination to do things that are not only against the law but also have the ability to destroy and occasionally even end their life.

Economic factors:
A criminal's upbringing and familial circumstances are frequently the motivating factors behind their illegal behavior. People decide to engage in crime because they feel it is their duty to support their family and they are unable to do so due to economic disadvantages, educational barriers, or other limitations.

This is an awful state of situations since, given such circumstances, it is very possible that the criminal would not have committed crimes if they had had enough money to support themselves and their family. This problem not only encourages people to conduct violent crimes like stealing but also heinous crimes that endanger their lives and freedom.

Unemployment:
Both industrialized and emerging nations struggle with a shortage of job opportunities. A significant percentage of today's youth are unemployed, and the Confederation of Indian Industry reports that the rate of youth employment is rising steadily. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy's data indicates that the unemployment rate in our nation is steadily rising.

Naturally, this frustrates the young people, who still struggle to obtain decent employment even after devoting a significant amount of time and resources to their studies. Many young people experience this as a source of animosity towards the system, which later causes them to rebel and turn to crime at a young age.

Sociological Factors:
The focus of sociological theories of crime is on how peer connections, family dynamics, social surroundings, and community elements affect criminal conduct. Criminal behavior can arise as a result of socialization processes, cultural norms, socioeconomic inequality, and disarray within the community. Sociological considerations emphasize the significance of social interactions and environmental elements in influencing people's decisions about engaging in criminal activity.

Media as a crime causing factor:
The Media has the power to shape public attitudes regarding criminal behavior and views of the relationship between crime and victimization. According to research, people's perceptions of the relationship between crime and exposure to the media are significantly influenced by it; higher exposure levels are associated with lower levels of concern about crime and better levels of trust in the criminal justice system. Public opinions of crime and criminals are influenced by how crime is portrayed in the media, which has the power to arouse strong emotions like fear and rage.

A misleading perception of the frequency and nature of criminal activity is produced by media representations that frequently concentrate on dramatic and violent incidents. Furthermore, by focusing on particular crimes and people, the media can may induce moral panics and folk demons, reinforce stereotypes, and stigmatize particular social groupings.

Hereditary factors:
Studies and research have looked into how genetics can predispose someone to engage in criminal activity. Studies on genetic epidemiology, such as twin, family, and adoption studies, have produced data pointing to a potential hereditary influence on criminal conduct. According to these studies, there is a genetic component to criminal conduct, and people with criminal histories are more likely to have specific genetic variations than the general population.

Genetic features and characteristics are passed down from one generation to the next in the interaction between criminal conduct and heredity. It is thought that a person's predisposition to criminal behavior, including features like aggression, impulsivity, and psychopathy, is largely influenced by genetic variables.

We can better comprehend the intricate dynamics that underpin criminal behavior by looking at how these biological, economic, psychological, political, and societal aspects interact whereas there are some who indulge in crime for fantasy enjoying people getting hurt, developing successful tactics to stop and lessen crime in society requires addressing these many forces.

The Existing Condition of Prison Administration:
There's no denying that as Jails have gradually modernized, their state has changed. However, a lot more work needs to be done to change the jail system so that inmates are treated much more humanely. It was decided in Muhammad Giassudin v. State of Andhra Pradesh, 1977, that inmates ought to be treated like patients and Jails ought to function as Hospitals. Prisons need to be places of correction, not harsh, soul-destroying structures. In R.D. Upadhyaya v. State of Andhra Pradesh and others, 2006, the Supreme Court voice its concern for the children whose mothers were incarcerated.

It also provided a thorough set of guidelines for providing these kids with enough food, housing, healthcare, clothes, education, and recreational opportunities. It went on to say that jail should not be the place of birth for a child born to a prisoner mother. Particularly in juvenile prisons, rudimentary education is given to the offenders. The prisoners are also given access to occupational training. They even receive compensation for their labour.

On Republic Day or Independence Day, prisoners whose behavior is deemed good and who are expected to have been rehabilitated into a person fit for society are freed from prison with their sentences lowered in accordance with their good behavior.

Though there are several cases on improving the conditions of Jail, like the Britishers back then the political leaders at present doesn't have interest to improve the conditions of prison, they are neglecting, moreover there are more cases and judgement on custodial torture, abuse overcrowding, violation against human rights, access to health and education yet there prevails an inadequateness in the prison system to follow those, where the prisoners are certainly treated brutally, cruelly and inhumanely and there is a lack of rehabilitation programs in prisons as well.

The Prison System focuses only on Punishment rather than Reforming them and rehabilitating, which would help them to reduce their recidivism, the prisoners face discrimination and violation of their basic rights, bias in acquiring legal aid, they are falsely convicted due to force ending up in unfair sentencing process, there is a wide lack in accountability and transparency in the prison system, the Prison Administration has brought in various measure like education of prisoners, equipping them with employment like tailoring and provided vocational training yet how far it is effective is an unanswerable one.

The prison administration rather than preventing the criminal it should focus on preventing the crime, they should analyse which factor that provoked them to cause crime and they should try to eradicate such factor by treating them physically or mentally by way of providing counselling to the prisoners so that they won't become an recidivist, the reformation and rehabilitation process starts from conviction till the imprisonment it is also the duty of prison administration officers to help them recover and transform them as a better human considering that every prisoner is a human and he has a future ahead.

Alternative Punishments provided for the Prisoners:

  • Parole: Parole is a reduction of limitations or an extension of temporary release to a convicted prisoner yet, Parole does not in any way alter the prisoner's status. One punitive tool that aims to humanize prison justice is Parole. Under some circumstances, it permits the prisoners to reintegrate into society. According to the Model Prison Manual, the primary goals of parole are to:
    1. Allow the prisoner to continue living with his family and take care of personal affairs.
    2. Protect the prisoner from the negative consequences of living behind bars all the time.
    3. To help the prisoner maintain their sense of self-confidence and engaged to a lifestyle.
       
  • Probation: Probation is an alternative to imprisonment. Similar to a suspended sentence, probation releases the offender back into society, but their freedom is limited compared to that of an ordinary person. Probation is typically granted by Courts to the first-time offenders or relatively low-risk perpetrators. While statutes specify when probation is possible, the condemning Judge has the final say over whether Probation should be granted. Requirements that limit behavior are part of probation, if the probationer disobeys one of those requirements, the probation may be revoked or altered by the Court. Courts are quite vigilant when it comes to probationary requirements.
     
  • Restitution: Similar to a fine, restitution is paid to the victims of the crime rather than the court or local government by the offender. The 78th Law Commission Report made this recommendation. In situations where victims of the crime suffered financial losses, judges typically require reparation. The goal of the payment is to compensate the victims and bring their financial situation back to where it was before the crime was committed. For instance, the victim of a combat injury sustained by a litigant may be entitled to reimbursement for his medical costs.
     
  • Community Work: Judges have the authority to order litigants to undertake community service, or unpaid work in the community, as payment for their social obligations.
     
  • Fines: Fines are frequently imposed as a form of punishment for a variety of violations, especially less serious ones that first-time offenders commit. Traffic violations, trivial drug possession, and first-time drinking and driving cases are among the offenses that typically result in fines. For more serious offenses or in cases where the defendant has a criminal history, many judges may combine a fine with alternative forms of punishment such probation, community service, detention, or suspended sentences.
     
  • Open prison: Is a scheme of reformation, in 1952, an open prison system was introduced in India with the opening of a camp in Chakia, in the Varanasi region of Uttar Pradesh, due to the initiative of Dr. Sampurnanand. The prisoners were permitted to work on their own or in nearby factories, and they received pay. There were twenty-seven open jails in the nation by the end of 1980, and the Jail Reforms Committee noted that this was clearly insufficient.

    The Committee conveyed their contentment with regard to open jails, particularly Rajasthan's Sanganar Jail, where inmates reside alongside their families. In Sanganar's two decades of existence, only two prisoners have managed to escape. This system helps the prisoners to integrate into society and prevents the feeling of isolation among the prisoners.

Recommendation Measures for Reformation in the Prisons:

  1. Education & Vocational Training:
    Offering educational opportunities and skill-building programs to equip individuals with tools for employment upon release. Through Counselling & Therapy providing mental health support, substance abuse counselling, and therapy to address underlying issues contributing to criminal behavior.
     
  2. Restorative Justice
    • Encouraging offenders to take responsibility and make amends for their actions by engaging them in dialogue with victims or the affected community.
    • Focuses on repairing harm caused rather than just punishing the offender through communication, mediation and compensation.
       
  3. Re-entry Programs:
    • Supporting the transition from incarceration back into society by offering housing assistance, job placement services, and mentorship programs.
    • Providing access to community resources to reduce the likelihood of re-offending.
       
  4. Alternative Sentencing:
    • Exploring alternatives to incarceration, such as community service, drug courts, or diversion programs, for non-violent offenders.
    • Emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment for certain types of offenses.
       
  5. Behavioural Change Programs:
    • Cognitive-behavioural therapy and other programs aimed at altering criminal thinking patterns and behaviors.
    • Teaching skills for conflict resolution, anger management, and decision-making.
       
  6. Support Networks:
    • Building strong support networks involving family, friends, mentors, and community organizations to encourage positive choices and provide a safety net. Which will not create an isolation feeling mentally.
       
  7. Policy Changes:
    • Advocating for changes in policies and laws to support rehabilitation efforts and reduce barriers for ex-offenders seeking employment, housing, and education so that it would help them so that they are not neglected from the society.
       
  8. Aiding in Rehabilitation Programs:
    • It might be utilized as a complementary tool within existing rehabilitation programs to reinforce positive behaviors and encourage adherence to treatment or counselling.
       
  9. Correctional Education:
    • Establishing coordinated systems of individualized learning services and activities within correctional facilities to provide inmates with educational opportunities, vocational training, and skill development. Correctional education programs aim to equip offenders with the necessary tools to succeed post-release and reduce the likelihood of recidivism.
       
  10. Reformation by way of Alternative Punishments:
    • By sending the prisoners on parole or furlough so that would help them to reintegrate into the society they might triggered emotionally by their families and friends provoking self-realisation, so that they would try to reform themselves and not to indulge in crime again and which might also help them to offer probation on good behavior.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, it is important to remember that the management of prisons and the reformation of inmates constitute just a small portion of the larger endeavour of social recovery. The jail administration is unable to successfully reform the inmates on its own. It simply needs to make small efforts to free the inmates nevertheless, these efforts won't be successful unless our social structures, economics, and education are properly applied and we can assist in guaranteeing everyone, regardless of background or circumstances and treating them with dignity and respect.

No matter how many pieces of legislation or committees might come into effect, the government remains blind and deaf to recommending or taking initiatives in terms of prison reform. Indeed, it is a long way ahead in terms of reformation in India. There is a bias when treating an ordinary prisoner compared to an influential one; these biases must be eradicated.

Until the prison administration makes an effort to follow and abide by the legislation and treats the prisoners without violating their fundamental rights, there can be no reformation in the prison administration system. It is the duty of the system to focus on reformation rather than punishment, to address the root causes and transform individuals by giving them the chance to reintegrate into society.

It is also the part of society not to label and stigmatize them even after release from prison. Society should encourage ex-prisoners by providing jobs instead of neglecting and judging them based on the crimes they committed in the past, thereby aiding their recovery and bearing in mind that they have a future ahead. As contributing members of society, everyone must work towards the creation of a more just and humane system, along with the State. The government should also work towards contributing to an efficient prison system.

References:
  1. Ahmad Siddique- Criminology, Penology and Victimology-Eastern Book Company, Lucknow – 4th Edition.
  2. Constitutional law –J.N.Pandey-Central Law Agency 59 edition (2022).
  3. https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-75-rights-of-prisoners.html
  4. https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-104-corrective-measures-in-india.html
  5. https://blog.ipleaders.in/legal-backdrop-prison-reforms/
  6. https://testbook.com/ias-preparation/prison-reforms
  7. https://www.clearias.com/prison-reforms/
  8. https://blog.ipleaders.in/rights-prisoners-major-judgments/

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