Fettered policies

Saturday, 12 January 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

THE escape of 10 prisoners from the Awissawella prison while they were waiting to be presented to Court has once again highlighted the need to provide adequate resources and rehabilitation measures to deal with criminals.

Prisoners live in an extreme world because they are often treated without consideration. While one may argue that they deserve this, it also results in desperate behaviour and is counterproductive to any rehabilitation measures. The commissions and committees that are often appointed to probe and punish prison-related offences pay scant attention to accountability and, as seen in the recent Welikada incident that killed 26 prisoners, the results can be serious.

Clashes in prisons are a common occurrence, partially due to the inhuman conditions that prisoners are forced to endure and a completely inept justice system that is fast losing public trust. Prisoners are a group to be pitied in Sri Lanka as they are repeatedly victimised by society and the judicial system.

In 2010, around 50% of people sent home after serving their prison sentences returned. Newspapers reported that out of 32,128 prisoners who were rehabilitated and sent home last year, 12,597 returned to spend time behind bars. Over 7,590 people have been remanded more than once in 2010. Over 5,000 people returned to prison twice after being released. Prison records show that 50% of people who are sent home return each year in Sri Lanka.

The statistics shockingly show that 86 people were remanded a whopping 11 times in 2010. This is just a glimpse into the country’s massively-deteriorated justice system. The law should ultimately serve the entire society, which includes the wrongdoers who should be given a chance to learn something new and return to their lives with the ability to live within legal parameters.

The fact that half of prisoners in Sri Lanka end up back behind bars each year shows that the rehabilitation policies are largely a failure. Criminals are made, not born, and it is clear that the economic resurgence of the country must reach these people if they are to move into living within the law. The more people who are left to languish in prison and not allowed to lead a normal life, the more accustomed they become to violence and working for drug barons, corrupt politicians and other underworld members.

A total of 57,000 grave crimes were committed in 2010. Barely 25% reached the courts for prosecution and only 4% led to convictions. Yet tens of thousands of prisoners are kept in terrible conditions, mistreated and victimised both inside and outside prisons. An important step has been taken with the new prison and it can only be hoped that the Government continues to speedily provide solutions to the larger issues.

Security is one of these larger issues – for society and inmates. In the recent Welikada incident the government responded by taking away rifles given the prison guards but perhaps this could lead to bold prisoners escaping more frequently. Piecemeal solutions aside there is a clear need to find sustainable solutions that do not unduly repress prisoners but provide worthwhile rehabilitation.