One Hundred Years On: Have Prisons Switched from Deterrence to Reform?

Abstract

Today over 1.5 million people are imprisoned in Commonwealth countries and the average occupancy level is 129%. The rise in prison populations is often attributed to the existence of punitive systems that have failed to fulfil the rehabilitative purpose of imprisonment. This article sets forth pertinent data on prisons in the Commonwealth nations, which have evolved from common colonial histories and traditions, to highlight perennial problems within the system. To further illustrate these concerns, it delves into a reflection from the findings of the Report of the Indian Jails Committee, 1919–20, and the Indian prison system of today. In doing this, the article encapsulates the journey of reforms implemented in the last 100 years in India.

Education policies in prisons: an analysis focused on the 10 largest prison populations

“…India has the fourth largest prison population in the world, with 478,600 people. A study published by Dhanuka (2021) provides an analysis of the Indian prison system over the past 100 years, highlighting that there has been no significant change in guarantees of human rights. On education in prisons in India, according to the latest report from the National Crime Records Bureau (2019), 114,262 people had access to educational interventions, including: 47,860 in primary education; 44,438 in adult education; 11,917 in higher education; and 10,047 in computer courses.…”