India’s Prison Crisis: Overcrowding and Lack of Healthcare Services in Focus

18-04-2025

05:51 AM

1 min read

What’s in Today’s Article?

The Tata Trusts recently published the India Justice Report 2025 according to which Indian jails face extreme overcrowding and are battling multiple health challenges.

The India Justice Report (IJR) is a collaborative effort by several civil society organizations and policy think tanks.
It is a data-driven assessment that evaluates the justice delivery systems across India’s 36 States and UTs, covering five key sectors:
- Police
- Judiciary
- Prisons
- Legal Aid
- Human Rights Commissions
The report employs quantitative indicators to highlight both progress and persistent gaps in structural capabilities and public service delivery.

The India Justice Report 2025 reveals alarming findings about the condition of Indian prisons, placing the spotlight on worsening overcrowding, the glaring lack of healthcare personnel, and the urgent need for mental health support across prison facilities.
With a rising inmate population and stagnant infrastructure development, the report flags a systemic failure that requires immediate policy attention.

The inmate population in India rose sharply from 3.8 lakh in 2012 to 5.7 lakh in 2022, and is projected to reach 6.8 lakh by 2030.
However, the available prison capacity stands at only 4.3 lakh, with a forecast of just 5.15 lakh by 2030, falling significantly short of demand.
The national occupancy rate stands at 131%, a substantial jump from 112% in 2012.
States like Maharashtra saw an occupancy spike from 99% to 161% over a decade.
The report identifies overcrowding as a key contributor to communicable disease outbreaks, deteriorating living conditions, and increased strain on administrative and health infrastructure.

The report highlights a 43% vacancy rate among prison medical officers, and the existing doctor-to-prisoner ratio stands at a staggering 1:775, far worse than the Model Prison Manual 2016 benchmark of 1:300.
This deficit in medical staff hinders not only day-to-day healthcare but also responses to outbreaks, injuries, chronic illness management, and even forensic documentation.

Perhaps the most serious revelation of the report is the near-collapse of India’s prison mental healthcare system.
- Only 25 psychologists are available for the entire prison population, equating to one psychologist for every 22,929 prisoners.
- In 2022, India had 69 sanctioned posts for mental health professionals, but less than half were filled.
- Not a single state or union territory meets the standard of 1 psychologist per 500 inmates.
Mental illness among prisoners doubled from 4,470 in 2012 to 9,084 in 2022.
Despite this surge, 25 States and Union Territories make no provision for a psychologist or psychiatrist within their correctional staff.
This gap poses immense risks, including increased suicides, unchecked behavioural issues, and relapse among those with substance use disorders.

The report also notes the absence of national-level data regarding prisoners entering jails with a disability or those who acquire disabilities during incarceration.
This undermines efforts to implement inclusive prison reforms or offer legal protection and special care to these vulnerable groups.

The India Justice Report calls for:
- Urgent recruitment of medical and mental health staff in jails.
- Strategic investment in prison infrastructure expansion.
- Regular publication of prison health and disability data.
- Policy incentives for States to decongest prisons, especially through alternatives to incarceration like bail reforms and community sentencing.
India’s prison system stands at a crossroads. As the country advances technologically and economically, its correctional system needs equal attention to ensure dignity, health, and safety for all inmates, aligning with international human rights standards.

Q1. What is the current national prison occupancy rate in India?

Ans. India’s national prison occupancy rate is 131%, far exceeding its prison capacity.

Q2. How many psychologists are available for Indian prisons?

Ans. There are only 25 psychologists available for over 5.7 lakh prisoners across the country.

Q3. What is the ideal doctor-to-prisoner ratio as per the Model Prison Manual?

Ans. The benchmark is 1 doctor per 300 inmates. Currently, the national average is 1:775.

Q4. What was the rise in mental illness cases among inmates between 2012 and 2022?

Ans. The number of prisoners with recorded mental illness rose from 4,470 in 2012 to 9,084 in 2022.

Q5. What does the India Justice Report 2025 emphasize?

Ans. The report emphasizes urgent reforms in prison staffing, infrastructure, and healthcare delivery, especially mental health support.

Source :TH