Women in Prison - Statistics

As per NCRB Prison Statistics 2020, there are more than 488511 prisoners with 118% occupancy of Prisons in India. The women prisoners are 3.9% (19,255 Females). Only 14 States/UTs were having Women Jails (29 Women Jails) with a total capacity of 6,179 in India. There were 1,427 women prisoners with 1,628 children as on 31st December, 2020

Prospects and Possibilities

• Additional arrangements be made prior to their imprisonment, women prisoners with care-giving responsibilities must be ensured. Frequent visits and meetings must be allowed between mother and child.
• Bail should be granted to those under-trial women who have spent one-third of their maximum possible sentence in detention.
• A separate accommodation for mothers in post-natal stage to maintain hygiene and protect the infant from contagion, for at least a year after childbirth.
• A comprehensive after-care programme should be put in place, covering employment, financial support, regaining of child custody, shelter, counseling, continuity of health care services, etc.
• Keeping in mind the mental needs of prisoner women inmates should have access to female counsellors/psychologists.