NCJ Number
74770
Date Published
1980
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The rehabilitation of offenders in Bangladesh has been thwarted by the establishment of punitive correctional institutions, negative societal attitudes toward offenders, lack of trained personnel and of voluntary social welfare agencies, and lack of coordination among governmental departments.
Abstract
No substantial reforms were made of the punitive correctional institutions inherited from the British by the Pakistani government during its 25-year period of control over Bangladesh following World War II. However, a Jail Reform Commission was appointed by the independent Bangladesh government in 1978 to make recommendations on reforming the corrections system. A strong negative attitude by the populace toward offenders reinforces a punitive corrections policy and minimizes the prospect of an offender's successful adjustment after leaving prison. Consequently, severe punishment does not produce the desired results in terms of prevention of recidivism. The alarming rise in juvenile delinquency indicates an acute need for adequately trained professional personnel for implementing rehabilitation programs for youthful offenders. The current emphasis upon punishment in the prisons gives adult inmates very litle opportunity for job training. The lack of interdepartmental cooperation is exemplified by the police's maintenance of traditional hardnosed attitudes toward suspected offenders. Because of the community-wide negative attitude toward offenders, as well as other technical difficulties, aftercare services toward released prisoners have met with total failure, thereby propelling ex-offenders toward renewal of their criminal activities. Finally, there are not any properly functioning voluntary social welfare agencies to assist prisoners and to aid in the rehabilitation of ex-offenders.