NCJ Number
79147
Journal
Social Defence Volume: 15 Issue: 57 Dated: (July 1979) Pages: 41-45,40
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper describes an experimental program undertaken by police in the Birbhum District of West Bengal, India, which arranged bank loans at nominal interest for ex-offenders and known criminals to enable them to start small businesses.
Abstract
Police officers in a poor country like India see that many persons commit crimes due to poverty and unemployment. The stigma of prison often prohibits ex-offenders from obtaining employment even if they wish to reform. With this in mind, the police convinced the State Bank of India to advance small loans at 4-percent interest to four men who had not been convicted by the court but were strongly suspected of being criminals. Between July and December 1978, the bank and police officers helped these individuals to establish businesses involving cattle trading, a vegetable shop, and mining china clay. After a few months, all reported that their earnings from business activities were greater than previous profits from crime. Observers used by the police also noted that the recipients were leading respectable family lives. The bankers were pleased because installments on the loans were paid regularly at the proper times. Encouraged by this success, similar loans were given to 12 persons from the area who had been convicted in criminal cases or against whom cases were pending. Care was taken to select individuals who had taken to crime due to poverty, but had not become very rich and had will power, strong family ties, and no serious vices. Other villages are now implementing similar schemes. Difficulties encountered in the program included lack of special personnel to monitor activities and negative attitudes of many police officers toward rehabilitation. The paper suggests that rules which prohibit ex-criminals from entering government employment and obtaining bank loans should be revised.