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OVERCROWDING IN INDIAN PRISONS - FINDING ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT

NCJ Number
41787
Journal
UNAFEI Resource Material Series Issue: 12 Dated: (OCTOBER 1976) Pages: 134-138
Author(s)
R SAXENA
Date Published
1976
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR REVIEWS SOME OF THE CAUSES OF OVERCROWDING IN INDIAN PRISONS, AND OUTLINES SEVERAL CURRENT AND PROPOSED MEASURES AGAINST OVERCROWDING.
Abstract
SUCH PROBLEMS AS COURT DELAYS, INCREASED CRIMINAL SANCTIONS AGAINST A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES, AND A GROWING NUMBER OF PRE-TRIAL DETAINEES AND SHORT-TERM CONVICTS HAVE LED TO A SERIOUS OVERCROWDING SITUATION IN INDIAN PRISONS. TO COUNTERACT THIS PROBLEM, THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HAS INSTITUTED SUCH MEASURES AS RESTRICTIONS ON POLICE, PROSECUTION AND COURTS TO SHORTEN THE PERIOD OF INVESTIGATION AND TRIAL; ISSUANCE OF EXECUTIVE INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL THE COURTS FOR SPEEDY DISPOSAL OF CASES PENDING TRIAL; AND SEPARATION AND STREAMLINING OF PROSECUTION AND POLICE WORK. THE AUTHOR ALSO SUGGESTS SUCH MEASURES AS SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS FOR INMATES AWAITING TRIAL, INCREASED PRE-TRIAL RELEASE OF PRISONERS, MORE USE OF THE PRISONERS' SHORTENING OF SENTENCE RULES, INCREASED USE OF PROBATION, AND ADOPTION OF SUSPENSION OF PROSECUTION....DMC