Prison System:

Functions and Challenges

Maliha Tasnim

Roll: 43

CRM 211 Introduction to Criminal Justice

Khandaker Farzana Rahman

Assistant Professor

University of Dhaka

April 24th, 2019

 Introduction

The prison administration system of Bangladesh is not standard enough compared to

western countries. The prison administration system is relatively weak in Bangladesh. Prison
is administered by the state and is used to house convicted criminals for periods of long
duration. Prison is a part of a larger penal system, which includes other aspects of criminal
justice such as criminal courts, law enforcement.

A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range
of personal freedoms. Imprisonment is a legal penalty that is imposed by the state for the
commission of a crime. A prison system is the organizational arrangement of the provision and
operation of prisons.

Prison administration system of Bangladesh is not healthy, in terms of overcrowding, delays in

judicial proceedings, living conditions in prison, the operational environment and management
of prisons, and infrastructure and facilities.

Government should modernize the present system; it must make the prison service more
attractive to potential recruits by providing better pay and higher job status to prison personnel.
Recruitment practices must be modified so that background checks are performed and only
candidates with good social and academic backgrounds are accepted. In addition, candidates
should be required to pass psychological, sociological, and personality tests.

In order to improve prison administration system of Bangladesh we have to take certain steps
such as- increase better living condition of prisoner’s accommodations, adequate protection of
women and child prisoners, adequate vocational training and facilities etc.
 1. Function of Prisons

The present system and practices of prison administration were established during the 200-year
period of British domination, which ended in 1947. From 1947 to 1971, when Pakistan
administered the country, no improvement was made. Thus imprisonment today means
punishment without training or social rehabilitation.

The origin of jail administration based on a comprehensive law dates back to 1864, When the
government of Bengal framed a detailed jail code. Until 1864, jail administration was carried
out by means of sporadically issued circular letters and general orders. There had been in effect
no uniformity in the jail procedure. However, The Bengal Jail Code of 1864 developed in the
subsequent years into a compendium of rules and regulations issued from time to time and
meant for the superintendence and management of all the jails, including the subsidiary jails,
throughout the province. It comprised two parts, The Bengal Jail Code and The Bengal
Subsidiary Jail Code.

The 64 prisons in Bangladesh can be divided into two major types:-

Central Jails- central jails are for the confinement of prisoners under trial, administrative
detainees and convicted prisoners sentenced to a term of imprisonment, including
imprisonment for life, and the death sentence.

District Jails- district jails are located at the headquarters of the district, are used for the
confinement of all categories of prisoners, except those convicted prisoners whose sentence
exceeds 5 years. District jails also hold long-term convicted prisoners if ordered by the
Inspector General of Prisons/Deputy Inspector General of Prisons
 2. Problems In The Prison Administration System of Bangladesh

The problems that Bangladesh prison administration system has:

 Inadequate medical facilities inside prisons.

 Lack of monitoring of prisons.
 Lack of welfare measures and reform programmed.
 Corruption in tendering contracts and interviews.
 Inadequate attention to women and child prisoners.
 Inadequate vocational training facilities.

2.1. UNHYGIENIC LIVING CONDITIONS OF PRISONERS ACCOMODATION

The living conditions of prisoners in jails are unhygienic. This is due to overcrowding of
the prisons with the large numbers of under trials. Two types of accommodation are available
in prisons: cell accommodation and accommodation in association wards.

2.2. OUTDATED PRISON LAWS AND RULES

Prisons still follow the outdated statute books of the British colonial rulers, which were
framed in the 19th century. According to these old statutes, the main objective of the prison
system was the confinement and safe custody of prisoners through suppressive and punitive
measures. There has been no significant modification in the jail code, nor have the vital
recommendations of the Jail Reform Commission been implemented.

2.3. RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING PROCEDURES OF PRISON OFFICERS AND

STAFF

The recruitment and training procedures of prison officers and staff under existing rules
and procedures are insufficient for the needs of prisoners. Prison services in most developed
countries are considered to be quite advanced as correction officers are educating offenders, as
part of the effort to facilitate the reform and eventual reintegration of prisoners into society.
This contrasts with the prison system in Bangladesh, which is geared towards containment and
punishment of prisoners, and does not facilitate their reform. Hence, prison officers and staff
are not recruited with appropriate skills nor trained adequately to encourage reform.

2.4. LACK OF MONITORING OF PRISONS

The irregularity of monitoring visits can be detrimental to the rights of prisoners. It is also
evident that complaints against prison staff from prisoners to inspecting officers and visitors
often result in maltreatment, thus worsening the conditions in prison even further. Hence, few
prisoners currently dare to complain to inspecting officers.

2.5. LACK OF WELFARE MEASURES AND REFORM PROGRAMMES

Welfare measures for the benefit of prisoners are extremely inadequate. There are no trained
social welfare officers in prisons to investigate physical aspects such as food, clothing, medical
care, sanitation, and water supply within the prisons. There are no trained social workers or
psychologists to provide for the psychological needs of prisoners.

2.6. INADEQUATE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND CHILD PRISONERS

The confinement of male and female prisoners in the same jail without separate areas is
harmful to women who are more easily subjected to physical and sexual abuse. Serious
violations have occurred in the past, such as in Khulna Jail, during the 1980s. In addition, the
practice of male prisoners cooking and serving food to female prisoners is also open to abuse
by the male prisoners.

2.7. INADEQUATE VOCATIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES

Vocational training programmed currently available in prisons include barber shop training,
laundry work, woodwork, metalwork, carpet and cloth weaving, and wool knitting. However,
these programmed are not sufficiently developed to cater for all classes of prisoners. Activities
are allotted to prisoners by the jailer without any consideration of skills, whereas these should
be assigned under supervision of the superintendent to reduce the risk of corruption.

According to Mr. Karzon, prison authorities in Bangladesh have failed to satisfy the
Standard

Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners set by the United Nations. Food supply is
generally insufficient and poor quality. The water supply is inadequate and has to be secured
from a container located in the bathing area of prisoners outside their cells. Besides poor prison
conditions that make the maintenance of proper health and hygienic practices nearly impossible
for prisoners, hospital facilities and services inside prisons are also reportedly inadequate.
 Conclusion

The overall discussion is about prison administration system and its problems. Specific areas
should be in focus such as- overcrowding, delays in judicial proceedings, living conditions in
prison, the operational environment and management of prisons, and infrastructure and
facilities. Reforms, particularly prison reforms to deal with human security in our prisons are
difficult to achieve. However, they can be brought about if concerted efforts are made by both
govt. agencies in charge of prison administration and NGOs and civil society to improve prison
systems. Health and Sanitation care facilities must be improved for which the directorate of
prison must have its own health services. Living conditions of the prison inmates must be
updated so as to do away with the present deplorable. The present physical structures of prisons
must be renovated for creating congenial atmospheres for exercising reformative programs.
There should be separate prisons for the female prisoners for safety and security.

For children and babies coming with the convicted mothers at the prison there should be
statutory arrangements for their growth and development. Some support from the Social
Welfare Department needs to be evolved in this context. Vocational training facilities both for
males & females should be updated so that they can find job opportunities upon release.A
Counseling Unit for convicts may be instituted for keeping a close view upon them so that they
can feel homely.

If we can come up with stated suggestions then we can expect better regulated prison
administration system in Bangladesh.
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