Alternatives To Imprisonment

Abstract

The problems in the prisons are many.  One among the problems and a serious one is over crowding of prisons which can be reduced by way of taking steps for alternatives to imprisonment.  There are 3 stages of criminal justice system which can send an individual to prison viz., 1) pre-trial stage, 2) trial stage, 3) after sentence stage.  Various alternatives are available in the place of imprisonment such as giving bail to the accused instead of remand, serving of notice u/s 41 Cr.P.C. Imposing time limits on pre-trial detention, plea bargaining, compounding of offences u/s 320 Cr.P.C./LokAdalath, making de-criminalisation of offences, imposing fines on petty offences etc.  Further at the stage of sentence, community service as a punishment, admonition, conditional discharge, parole, furlough, remission of sentence, sending the accused to open jails will be few alternatives.