Prisons in India

Prisons in India are overcrowded and eight of out ten prisoners in Indian jails await trial.[1] There are 1319 prisons in India as of 2021. Currently, there are about 1400 prisons. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of prisoners increased 13% from 2020 to 2021, making over 80% of the prisons overcrowded. After the Supreme Court order, a number of prisoners were released in 2020 to decongest the jails, reducing the overall prison occupancy in 20 states and two Union Territories to a little over 93%.[2] However, the occupancy rate increased to 130% again by 2021.[1] About 63 unnatural deaths took place in Indian prisons.[3] Among the major states, Tamil Nadu is the only state which has less than 100% occupancy followed by Karnataka.[2]

  1. ^ a b Taskin, Bismee (13 September 2022). "8 in 10 prisoners in India await trial, majority of jails overcrowded, finds report". ThePrint. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Kumar, S. Vijay (5 April 2023). "India Justice Report | Tamil Nadu prisons secure top spot; Karnataka placed second". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  3. ^ Singh, Udit (7 December 2023). "Prison Statistics India 2022: Above 75% Prisoners Are Under Trials, Actual Occupancy Of 131% In Indian Prisons; 1.9% Incidence Of Recidivism; Reasons Of 63 Unnatural Deaths In Prisons Un Known". www.livelaw.in. Retrieved 3 January 2024.