NCJ Number
56936
Journal
Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 36-40
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF ANXIETY AMONG 30 MALE AND 10 FEMALE DETAINEES IN THE CENTRAL JAIL OF BANGALORE, INDIA, IS REPORTED.
Abstract
IN INDIA PEOPLE WHO ARE HELD IN CUSTODY WHILE AWAITING TRIAL ARE CALLED UNDER TRIAL PRISONERS (UTP'S). UTP'S SOMETIMES HAVE TO WAIT FOR MONTHS OR YEARS FOR THEIR CASES TO BE TRIED, AND MANY ARE SUBJECTED TO CONSIDERABLE STRESS--LOSS OF SOCIAL STATUS, UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE, ECONOMIC LOSSES, THE RIGORS OF JAIL LIFE--WHILE THEY WAIT. THE SCORES OF 40 UTP'S ON THE MAX HAMILTON ANXIETY RATING SCALE WERE HIGHER THAN NORMAL ON SEVERAL DIMENSIONS: ANXIETY; MOOD; TENSION; FEAR; INSOMNIA; DEPRESSION; AND GENERAL SOMATIC (MUSCULAR AND SENSORY), CARDIOVASCULAR, GASTROINTESTINAL, AND AUTONOMIC SYMPTOMS. THEIR MEAN SCORE ON THE SCALE WAS 18.65, COMPARED TO THE NORM OF 7.08, AND 26.45 FOR PATIENTS DIAGNOSED AS SUFFERING FROM ANXIETY NEUROSIS. THE 25 SUBJECTS WHO CLAIMED TO BE INNOCENT DID NOT SCORE HIGHER ON THE ANXIETY SCALE THAN OTHER SUBJECTS. MOST OF THE UTP'S WERE YOUNG ADULTS FROM THE LOWER CLASSES. ALL WERE ESPECIALLY DISTURBED BY THE SOCIAL STIGMA OF BEING IN JAIL. MANY SAID THEY HAD BEEN TORTURED INTO CONFESSING TO CRIMES THEY HAD NOT COMMITTED. THE UTP'S WERE HOUSED TOGETHER WITH CONVICTED PRISONERS AND WERE AFRAID OF THEM. AMONG RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE LOT OF UTP'S ARE MORE LIBERAL USE OF BAIL AND RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE, FASTER TRIALS, SEPARATE FACILITIES FOR UTP'S, BETTER POLICE TRAINING TO REDUCE FALSE ARRESTS, PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT FOR UTP'S WHO NEED IT, AND SERVICES FOR THE DEPENDENTS OF UTP'S. SUPPORTING DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)