Essay on The Problem of Overcrowding in Prisons in India !
It is a known fact that prisons in most parts of India are overcrowded. For instance, there were 8500 prisoners in Tihar Jail of Delhi in 1995 as against the capacity of 2500 persons. The baneful effect of overcrowding is that it does not permit segregation among convicts—those punished for serious offences and for minor offences. As a result of this, hardened criminals may spread their influence over other inmates.
The juvenile offenders who are kept in jails because of inadequacy of alternative places where they can be confined, come into contact with hardened criminals and are likely to become professional offenders. It is in this backdrop that the problem of overcrowding in prisons needs to be tackled in right earnest.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The Law Commission in its 78th Report (1979) made some recommendations for easing congestion in prisons. These suggestions include liberalisation of conditions of release on bail, particularly release of certain categories of undertrials on bail. Other methods of reducing overcrowding in prisons may include extensive use of fine as an alternative punishment for imprisonment, civil commitment and release on probation.
Overcrowding may also be reduced by release on parole a prisoner after he has served part of the sentence imposed upon him. It is a conditional release of an individual from prison. The system of remission, leave and premature release may also be useful in tackling the problem of overcrowding in prison institutions. The All India Committee on Jail Reforms, headed by Justice A.N. Mulla has in its Report (1980-83) mentioned about various types of remission and made useful recommendations to streamline the remission system in India.