Author(s): Utkarsh Yadav, Abhineet Ranjan, Soumil Thapak Shambhavi Kashyap and Pranesh Krishna

Abstract: India's prison system houses over 573,000 inmates across 1,350 facilities. It faces deep-rooted challenges that hinder justice, rehabilitation, and human dignity. This situation calls for urgent policy changes. The research work, Crafting Equitable Justice: Policy Pathways for Prison Reform in India, looks into these issues within India’s social and legal context. It suggests a clear plan for systemic reform. The study analyzes historical trends, current issues, legal systems, and successful programs. It points out barriers like overcrowding, which is at 131% capacity, poor healthcare, slow judicial processes, and deeply rooted caste and religious biases. Scheduled Castes/Tribes (SC/ST) and Muslims make up 33% and 18% of inmates respectively. They face unfair sentencing and treatment. Meanwhile, undertrials account for 76% of the prison population. They struggle with long detention periods due to a backlog of 40 million court cases (National Crime Records Bureau, Prison Statistics India 2023). The research highlights innovative advocacy methods. These include technology-driven approaches like NALSA’s legal aid app and grassroots movements led by NGOs and communities, which aim to elevate the voices of marginalized groups. It stresses the importance of rehabilitation and reentry programs, such as Tamil Nadu’s Open Prison System. These initiatives aim to lower the 60% recidivism rate and help individuals reintegrate into society (Ministry of Home Affairs, Recidivism Trends in India). Ethical concerns include balancing prisoner rights with public safety. This ensures that advocacy is inclusive, addressing the needs of women (who make up 4% of inmates), SC/ST, Muslims, and disabled inmates. Intersectional views highlight the unique challenges faced by these groups. For instance, 80% of women lack access to reproductive healthcare, and 10% of disabled inmates do not receive necessary accommodations (National Commission for Women, Women in Prisons Report). The research also draws on examples like Kerala’s restorative justice pilot. This program reduced recidivism by 15% and offers models for policy reform (Kerala Prison Department, Restorative Justice Pilot Outcomes). Recommendations for reform include updating the Prisons Act of 1894, increasing funding beyond the current ₹7,000 crore prison budget, expanding vocational training, and implementing restorative justice across the country. This framework brings together legal, social, and technological solutions to create more humane and fair prisons. It aligns with India's constitutional commitment to equality (Constitution of India, art 14) and human dignity (Constitution of India, art 21). By focusing on the voices of those incarcerated and using data-driven advocacy, it aims to break down systemic inequalities, lower recidivism, and encourage lasting reform. It offers policymakers a clear roadmap for creating a just and inclusive prison system in India.

DOI: 10.22271/2790-0673.2025.v5.i2b.226

Pages: 142-147 | Views: 625 | Downloads: 202

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