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

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has recently released its Prison Statistics India (2022) Report (PSI). The PSI is based on the data furnished by the Prison Department of all 36 States/UTs for a calendar year i.e. January 01 to December 31, 2022, as per the NCRB prescribed proformae through an Application developed by NCRB.Some of the Major findings of the report are as follows:Prisons- Types and OccupancyYearNo. of PrisonsActual Capacity of PrisonersNo. of Prisoners atthe end of the yearOccupancy Rate atthe end of the year202013064,14,0334,88,511118.0%202113194,25,6095,54,034130.2%202213304,36,2665,73,220131.4%The data shows that the total number of prisons at national level has increased from 1,319 in 2021 to 1,330 in 2022 having increased by 0.8%.The actual capacity of prisons has increased from 4,25,609 in 2021 to 4,36,266 in 2022, having increased by 2.5%. Number of prisoners lodged in various jails has increased from 5,54,034 in 2021 to 5,73,220 in 2022, having increased by 3.5% during the periodThe occupancy rate has increased from 130.2% in 2021 to 131.4% in 2022. Uttar Pradesh has reported the highest capacity in their jails (capacity of 67,600 inmates in 77 jails contributing 15.5% of total capacity) followed by Bihar (capacity of 47,750 inmates in 59 jails contributing 10.9% of total capacity) and Madhya Pradesh (capacity of 29,715 inmates in 132 jails contributing 6.8% of total capacity).Prisons- Types and DemographyYearNo. of ConvictsNo. of Undertrial PrisonersNo. of DetenuesNo. of Other InmatesTotal No. ofPrisoners20201,12,5893,71,8483,5904844,88,51120211,22,8524,27,1653,4705475,54,03420221,33,4154,34,3024,3241,1795,73,220The data shows that the no. of undertrial inmates were reported as 4,34,302 which is 75.8% of total prisoners which is an increase of 1.7% since 2021. The convicts only account for 23.3% of total prisoners having increased by 8.6% since 2021. There are 5412 (convicts), 18146 (under trials) and 120 (detenues) female prisoners across the country.There were 1,537 women prisoners with 1,764 children as on December 31, 2022.Among these women prisoners, 1,312 women prisoners were undertrial prisoners who were accompanied by 1,479 children and 198 convicted prisoners who were accompanied by 230 children.There are 14 (convicts) and 83 (under trial) transgender prisoners across the country. Uttar Pradesh has reported the maximum number of convicts (20.4%, 27,209 convicts) in the country followed by Madhya Pradesh (16.3%, 21,761 convicts) and Maharashtra (6.0%, 7,998 convicts) at the end of 2022. Uttar Pradesh has also reported the maximum number of undertrials (21.7%, 94,131 undertrials) in the country followed by Bihar (13.2%, 57,537 undertrials) and Maharashtra (7.6%, 32,883 undertrials) at the end of 2022.The number of detenues has increased from 3,470 in 2021 to 4,324 in 2022, having increased by 24.6% during this period.Tamil Nadu has reported the maximum number of detenues (49.2%, 2,129) in the country followed by Jammu & Kashmir (12.6%, 546) and Gujarat (7.7%, 334) at the end of 2022.Prisoners- Sentences & IncarcerationA total of 544 prisoners, who had been sentenced for Capital Punishment, were lodged in various jails of the country as on 31st December, 2022. Out of these 544 prisoners, 190 prisoners were sentenced for capital punishment during the year 2022.Among the 1,33,415 convicted prisoners, the number of prisoners who were sentenced to Life Imprisonment were 75,629 accounting for 56.7% of total convicts. Prisoners – ReleasesThe release of convicts has increased by 34.9% (from 93,077 in 2021 to 1,25,533 in 2022) and the release of undertrials has increased by 5.4% (from 14,68,627 in 2021 to 15,48,143 in 2022). Out of 1,25,533 convicts released, 41.2% of convicts (51,680) were released after completion of conviction period during 2022. A total of 10,760 convicts were released subsequent to the acquittal on appeal from Higher Courts. Only 5,035 convicts were released before completion of sentence award. A total of 110 Convicts were pardoned for their offence committed. A total of 15,48,143 undertrial prisoners were released during 2022, out of which 95.0% of undertrial prisoners (14,70,848) were released on bail.A total 537 undertrial prisoners were released under Section 436A of CrPC during 2022.Deaths and Illness in PrisonsYearTotal No. of Deaths in PrisonsNo. of Natural DeathsNo. of Un-natural Deaths (incl. Suicide)202018871642189202121161879185202219951773159Number of deaths in prisons has decreased from 2,116 in 2021 to 1,995 in 2022, having decreased by 5.7%.Number of un-natural deaths in prisons has decreased by 14.1% from 185 in 2021 to 159 in 2022.Among the 159 un-natural deaths of inmates, 119 inmates have committed suicide, 4 inmates were murdered by inmates, 10 inmates died in accidents and 1 inmates died due to assault by outside elements during 2022. For a total of 63 inmate deaths, cause of the death is yet to be known.Jail Breaks, Escapees &...

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

Udit Singh

Tags