ALL THAT IS WRONG WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PRISON SYSTEM

ABSTRACT The problems faced by persons due to deficit of adept laws in the field of criminal justice and in prisons are expansive in both their nature and geography. They range from inadequately resourced detention facilities to intentional and calculated acts of mistreatment by repressive governments. The developed as well as developing nations face these problems alike. Yet the precise nature of the challenges is specific to each country. The article begins with a general introduction and explanation of criminal justice, how it came into existence on international level and its relation with Indian criminal justice system. The setup story of International Criminal Court with lucid examples has been included. Next, the paper goes into the Indian constitutional guarantees provided to accused and highlights the various loopholes in the system. A detailed description of the prisons and gross human rights violations transpiring in there has been presented in an articulate manner. The proposed amendments in CrPC have been mentioned as well. The paper does not limit itself to India alone but covers the worldwide scenario in this regard as well. The condition of prisons is beyond imagination. Overcrowding, understaffing, lack of adequate medical care, physical mistreatment of prisoners resulting in custodial deaths, inadequate conditions for female and juvenile detainees, poor administration, long detention of those awaiting trial, and inadequate opportunities for prisoners to communicate with counsel, administrators, and family are some of the plaguing problems inside the jails.