The prison system in Pune and across the state faces an alarming overcrowding crisis, with 40,485 inmates crammed into facilities designed for 26,377 individuals, operating at a staggering 153% capacity. Data released by the state prison department shed light on the severity of the situation, raising concerns about the well-being and rehabilitation of inmates.
In 2016-17, a total of 31,214 inmates were accommodated across various jails in the state against a capacity of 23,942. The trend continued, with each subsequent year showing an increase in the number of inmates surpassing the designed capacity. The most recent data for 2021-22 indicates a total of 41,023 inmates against a capacity of 25,393, showcasing the escalating crisis.
Amitabh Gupta, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons), acknowledged the issue and stated, “Steps are being taken to increase the capacity of prisons to accommodate more inmates. Construction of new prisons at Yerawada, Palghar, Ahmednagar, Hingoli, and Baramati is underway, with the potential to accommodate at least 7,000 new inmates in the next few years.”
The overcrowding issue is particularly acute in eight prisons in the state, operating at an alarming rate of more than 200% capacity. Kalyan district jail leads the list with a staggering 406% overcrowding rate, followed by Thane central jail (377%), Mumbai central jail (373%), Buldhana district jail (350%), Solapur district jail (328%), Nanded district jail (295%), Jalgaon district jail (260%), and Yerawada central jail (237%).
Swati Sathe, Deputy Inspector General (Prison), emphasized the correlation between crime rates and the accommodation ratio, stating, “As crime rates increase, we can see this ratio also increases. We are working on enhancing our intake capacity, with new prisons in the pipeline to address the issue within the next few years.”
The critical issue of prison overcrowding poses challenges not only for the inmates but also for the correctional system, leading to compromised living conditions, heightened tensions among prisoners, increased risk of violence, and difficulties in providing essential services and programs aimed at prisoner rehabilitation. Authorities acknowledge that the problem underscores broader challenges within the criminal justice system, including sentencing policies, bail procedures, and access to legal representation.
