In light of recent events, the increasing number of deaths in Indian prisons has sparked concern. The Supreme Court Committee on Prison Reforms, established to examine and suggest improvements, has identified suicide as one of the leading causes of unnatural deaths among prisoners.
Understanding Prison Deaths: Classification and Stats
Deaths in prisons are typically classified as natural or unnatural by the Prison Statistics India report, an annual publication by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). In 2021 alone, a disheartening total of 2,116 prisoners died in judicial custody, with nearly 90% of these deaths being natural, resulting from aging or illness. Illnesses contributing to prisoners’ fatalities included heart conditions, HIV, tuberculosis, and cancer, among others. As the prison population escalates, recorded natural deaths increased from 1,424 in 2016 to 1,879 in 2021.
Unnatural deaths, on the other hand, extend over a myriad of categories including suicide, deaths due to in-fighting, assaults from outsiders, negligence, firing, accidents, and natural calamities. The alarming suicide rate among inmates was found to be over twice the rate recorded in the general Indian populace.
Investigating Deaths in Custody
The NCRB, since 1993, is required to inform of a custodial death within 24 hours, followed by post-mortem reports and either magisterial inquest reports or videography reports of the post-mortem. In cases of custodial rape and murder, a compulsory judicial magisterial inquiry replaces the executive magistrate inquiry, as mandated by the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Efforts to Tackle the Issue of Prison Death
Addressing prisoner health has been a priority for the Supreme Court and the Government of India. In a 1996 judgment, the Supreme Court noted prisoners’ health as a social obligation and highlighted the cumulative health hazards faced by inmates due to incarceration.
To usher reform in prison healthcare, governmental efforts like the Model Prison Manual of 2016 and the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 have been instituted. These outline an inmate’s right to healthcare and mandate adequate investments in healthcare facilities, establishment of mental health units, training officers for basic and emergency care, and formulation of suicide prevention programs.
Recommendations from the NHRC
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has put forth recommendations to prevent suicides, including regular checks on bed sheets and blankets, mental health literacy training for staff, fostering support through prison buddies trained in psychological first aid, and implementing the WHO’s Gatekeeper Model. This model involves training select inmates to identify fellow prisoners at risk of suicide, thus enabling early intervention.
Dealing with Addiction and Promoting Positive Engagement
The NHRC also recommends tackling addiction issues among prisoners with regular visits from mental health professionals and de-addiction experts. Life-skill-based education and engaging activities like yoga, sports, crafts, spiritual and optional religious instructions can channel inmates’ energy positively and constructively. Collaboration with NGOs is suggested to facilitate these activities.
Decoding Prison Statistics: The Numbers Story
At a national level, the total number of prisons rose from 1,306 in 2020 to 1,319 in 2021, marking a 1.0% increase. The most significant number of prisons are found in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh. With respect to capacity, actual prison capacity increased by 2.8% from 2020 to 2021.
Convicted and Undertrial Prisoners: A Closer Look
The count of convicted prisoners saw an increase of 9.1% from 2020 to 2021. Most convicted prisoners were lodged in Central Jails, District Jails, and Sub Jails. The number of undertrial prisoners rose significantly by 14.9% from 2020 to 2021.
Future Course: Aligning Policies and Encouraging Research
Going forward, there is a pressing need to regularly review and update policies in alignment with evolving needs and challenges. Investment in training and capacity building for prison staff could ensure better care and support for inmates. Collaboration between government bodies, NGOs, and healthcare professionals is essential to enhance mental health care and manage addiction within prisons. Lastly, promoting research on emerging trends and effective interventions would be instrumental in combating the increasing threat of unnatural deaths in India’s prisons.