There are a number of problems in jails and the biggest problem is that the jails are overcrowded. Another major problem is related to health of prisoners and lack of medical facilities and services in jail. Violence inside the jail is one more problem and there are a number of instances when prisoners get badly injured and in some cases they are also dead. The reasons behind such violence are many but lack of security personnel encourage the prisoners to involve in violent incidents.
A survey report was conducted by bureau of justice that more than one third of prisoners inside the jail suffer from major health problems like tuberculosis, liver problems, kidney problems, and hepatitis. A huge number of prisoners also suffer from various mental problems. These problems discourage the prisoners in participating in the sports and other activities, affect their psyche badly and ultimately affect the efforts of criminal professionals to reform these prisoners. People who want to reform these prisoners find their behavior negative and unenthusiastic and in this situation they do not get cooperation from prisoners and situation remains unchanged.
The problems found in the jail affect the professionals also because the problems cause some administrative difficulties and since professionals are supposed to handle these difficulties, they face the heat. A number of professionals like doctors, coach and other professionals are present there in jail premises. If the prisoners, for whom these professionals are hired, are not happy, well and satisfied, it certainly creates trouble for these professionals in tackling the situation.
Considering the problems of jail and the lopsided conditions of prisoners and increasing number of prisoners, new jails should be built and numbers of prisoners in one cell also be minimized. Society should take a sympathetic approach towards the prisoners and people should help them in starting a new life.
Reference
Peter M. Carlson and Judith Simon Garrett. (2008). Prison and Jail Administration: Practice and Theory. London: Jones & Bartlett Publishers, Inc.
