Concept of Open Prison System as a Correctional System: A Study in Light of Present Context

No Society can be completely devoid of Crime and Punishment for every Crime is indispensable. Modern Criminologists, however, prefer to perceive criminals as ‘sick’ person who deserve ‘treatment’ in form of rehabilitation and reformation, instead of being inflicted with retributive punishment. With the growing impact of Reformative theory of punishment accompanied with demand to protect certain rights of prisoners ensuring fundamental human dignity, Open Prison System has come to light. Open Prisons have emerged as a correctional system for reformation of prisoners by providing them with recreational facilities, family-visits, remissions, wage-labour which instils them with self-confidence and helps them to re-socialise with community after their release. However, though the aims and objectives to be achieved by the Open Prison Systems are laudable, there still remains a room for improvement and reforms. This paper, thus, attempts to trace the history of open prisons, discuss the utility of open prisons as a correctional system, especially in India, in the current scenario and suggest some measures for improvement.