Prison Management
There are numerous questions which come to my mind when this word prisoner strikes my head. The questions are, whether the role of law is restricted till the punishment? Does state owe any kind of duty toward prisoner? Does prisoner have a right to live in the main stream of society after their imprisonment is over? Can state or law guarantee that after the tenure of imprisonment, the criminal inclination in prisoner would not develop again?
The only method which is thought to be appropriate and best is imparting education to the prisoner. Education brings about sublimation of the ant-social instinct in a criminal by slowly moulding his knowledge, character and behaviour. This would also restrict the prisoners from recidivating, secondly education would make them strong enough to support their family and live a dignified life.Education should be used as an instrument for change it should focus to on providing opportunity to help prisoners to re-order, reform their lives in a positive manner and to develop sense of social responsibility.
Community service can be used as an alternative sentence to develop the sense of social responsibility. After the completion of the sentence, a criminal can easily enter into his society and can be well accepted there and his life can resume all the comforts which he used to enjoy earlier.Community service is a flexible, personalized, and humane sanction, a way for the offender to repay or restore the community. It is practical, cost-effective, and fair–a “win-win” proposition for everyone involved. Constructive activities should be performed for the prisoners in their care with opportunities to changeand develop. This requires considerable skill and commitment.Prisons should be treated as place where there is a full opportunity for constructive activities which will help prisoners to improve their condition and learn to lead a dignified life.
** Blog post contributed by – Abhishek Bhargava, Faculty of IILS
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