NCJ Number
87780
Date Published
1982
Length
35 pages
Annotation
Following an introductory review of India's corrections system, information is provided on prison industries, remands, the status of prison officers and human rights, the exchange of prisoners, and the problem of drug-abusing inmates.
Abstract
In India, the goods produced in prison industries generally cater to the need of government departments, and only a fraction of the inmate population is employed in work programs. Work programs include cottage industries, carpentry, and blacksmithing. Carpetweaving is one of the major prison industries. Inmates involved in work programs gain remissions in their sentences and are paid wages. There is a need to upgrade and modernize prison industries so inmates are prepared to enter upgraded industries in the community. The remand populations in the various States have increased primarily because of court delays. The Law Commission of India in its 1979 report recommended ways to reduce the remand population, including an expansion of the number of bailable offenses, liberalization of the courts' discretionary powers in setting bail, and release on bond without sureties. Suggestions for reducing court delay were also offered. Generally, the pay scales and working conditions of correctional guards are poor, leading to recent unrest among prison personnel. Sporadic efforts have been made to upgrade the professional development of prison personnel. In the treatment of prisoners, guidance is provided by the Model Prison Manual, which takes into account the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. India has no agreement for the exchange of prisoners between countries. The number of drug addicts in India's prisons is not large. The Committee on Jail Reforms has recommended that drug addicts be segregated from the rest of the prison population because of their generally aggressive behavior and their involvement in drug trafficking in the prisons. Extensive corrections data are provided.