COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS

• NCJ Number: 45344
• Author(s): H SINGH
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: India
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE 45TH INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR COURSE ON INCREASE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, FEBRUARY 10-MARCH 28, 1977

Annotation

AN OVERVIEW OF CRIME CONTROL AND CORRECTIONS IN INDIA IS PRESENTED, WITH EMPHASIS ON REFORMS IN PENAL PHILOSOPHIES AND PRACTICES AND ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS.

Abstract

THE GOAL OF CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN INDIA IS THE PROTECTION OF SOCIETY THROUGH A WELL-ROUNDED PROGRAM OF RECOVERY, RE-EDUCATION, AND REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS. INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS AIM AT ENSURING THE REINTEGRATION OF OFFENDERS INTO THE COMMUNITY. PENAL INSTITUTIONS EMPHASIZE NOT ONLY CUSTODIAL AND SECURITY OPERATIONS BUT ALSO THERAPEUTIC MEASURES DIRECTED TOWARD REFORMATION AND REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS. THE EFFICACY OF CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS IS MEASURED IN TERMS OF IMPACT ON OFFENDERS'S SYSTEMS OF BELIEFS, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIOR. THE FOUNDATIONS OF PRISON REFORM IN INDIA WERE LAID BY THE INDIAN JAILS COMMITTEE, WHICH DECLARED IN 1919 THAT REFORMATION AND REHABILITATION SHOULD BE THE OBJECTIVES OF IMPRISONMENT. ANOTHER LANDMARK IN CORRECTIONAL REFORM FOR INDIA WAS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ALL INDIA JAIL MANUAL COMMITTEE IN 1957. THE COMMITTEE'S MODEL PRISON MANUAL HAS SERVED AS A BLUEPRINT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES. THE CENTRAL BUREAU OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, LATER KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL DEFENSE, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1961 AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE COMMITTEE. ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR CORRECTIONAL DEVELOPMENT WERE SET FORTH BY A GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED WORKING GROUP ON PRISONS IN 1972. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL DEFENSE IS ENGAGED IN DEVISING GUIDELINES FOR MOBILIZING COMMUNITY WELFARE RESOURCES AND FOR PROMOTING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESS OF APPREHENSION, TRIAL, TREATMENT, REFORMATION, AND REHABILITATION, AS WELL AS IN THE PREVENTION OF CRIME. EXAMPLES OF COOPERATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITIES IN INDIA ARE CITED. INDIA'S DOCTRINE OF 'NEW SOCIAL DEFENSE,' WHICH VIEWS CRIME AS ANTISOCIAL CONDUCT AND DISCARDS THE CONCEPT OF PUNISHMENT IN FAVOR OF THE CONCEPT OF RESOCIALIZATION, IS SAID TO OPEN NEW VISTAS FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS. -- LM