Open-air prisons are a humane solution to overcrowded jails – so why doesn’t India use them more?

A legal battle in the Supreme Court has shone the spotlight on India’s open-air prisons. The court is deliberating over preserving land in Rajasthan’s Sanganer open-air prison, with the state government looking to reduce its size. In another case earlier this year, the court suggested the use of open-air prisons as a solution to over-crowding in regular prisons.

Open-air prisons have also seen judicial attention in other states. The Orissa High Court earlier this month recommended this model to its state government. The Allahabad High Court made a similar suggestion earlier this year. These developments highlight the growing focus on open-air prisons as an alternative to traditional incarceration.

Open-air prisons are designed to prioritise rehabilitation over confinement. Unlike traditional prisons, they have minimal security and allow inmates greater freedom of movement. Inmates live in open conditions and are encouraged to engage in productive activities such as running small businesses, farming, vocational training or other employment.

These prisons typically house non-violent offenders who demonstrate good behaviour and are nearing the completion of their sentences. In some cases, inmates can even reside with their families or visit them frequently, maintaining vital social ties.

In spite of these benefits, as of 2022, of the 5,73,220 prisoners in India, only 4,473 were in open-air prisons,...

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