Crowded Cells: Examining The Overpopulation Dilemma In Prisons In India
- IJLLR Journal
- Mar 25
- 1 min read
Parinitha.S, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
ABSTRACT
Overcrowding in Indian prisons has become a serious concern, impacting the health, safety, and rehabilitation of prisoners severely. With prisons running way above their approved capacities, the problem arises from systemic inefficiencies like rampant undertrial detention, sluggish judicial processes, and weak alternative sentencing mechanisms. This study examines the causes of prison overcrowding, tracing its effects on the basic rights of prisoners, such as healthcare, legal assistance, and humane living conditions. The study also examines the policy and law framework that guides the governance of prisons in India, determining the efficacy of laws like the Prisons Act, 1894, and the Model Prison Manual, and judicial interventions meant to control overcrowding. A comparative review is undertaken to study effective prison reforms that have been introduced in nations like the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States of America, bringing in lessons about alternative models of sentencing, probation, and policies with a rehabilitation focus. With this review, the paper puts forward workable solutions in the form of bail reforms, decriminalization of petty crimes, and enhanced reintegration programs to reduce overcrowding. The research ends by identifying significant challenges in rolling out reforms and proposing directions for future research to develop a more humane and effective prison system in India.
Keywords: Prison Overcrowding, Undertrial Detention, Judicial Delays, Rehabilitation Policies and Alternative Sentencing Mechanisms.
