The Colvale central jail which was inaugurated just recently was supposed to be more of a reformative center than just to keep the prisoners and under-trials within the confines of the four walls of the prison cubicle. But the brawl in the jail premises between the inmates and the jail guards which left several injured was an unfortunate incident. It is understood that the trouble started when under-trials were transferred from the Sada jail to the Colvale jail.
It must said there may be several under-trials specially, foreign inmates who are lodged in the prison in connection with drug related offences and who should be handled differently. These inmates could be undergoing withdrawal symptoms and hence need to be given appropriate treatment. They should be assisted to come out of the drug habit.
A jail needs to be more of a correctional center and not just a place for the inmates to serve their sentence. It should also be like a rehabilitation center for drug addicts. Some of the under-trials could be living along with hardened criminals in the jail which could change their perception of life once they are set free. Hence utmost care needs to be taken while treating the jail inmates.
There are many unfortunate ones among the inmates who have landed on the wrong side of the law due to certain circumstances in the society. Many of them could be repenting for their wrong actions. There is every possibility that they will reform once they leave the jail. Hence the jails should be correctional centers rather than a place for meting out punishment. The incident at the Colvale jail was most unfortunate.
Henceforth utmost care needs to be taken while handling the inmates. Each jail inmate is different and needs to be treated accordingly. In prisons in foreign countries the inmates are involved in several small-time jobs so that they spend their time productively. In the past we have seen that in Goa many jail inmates are very talented and have come out with exquisitely designed works of art specially, during the festive seasons. Their hidden talent needs to be nurtured so that they are useful to the society once they are set free after serving their term. We need to treat the convicts and the under-trials who are in a humane manner.
That is where a correctional center can come in handy in helping the prisoner shed the violent attitude and be accepted in the society after his release. Many could be in need of psychological treatment.
