Psychological Restoration in Correctional Systems: A Psycholegal Behavioral Analysis of Prison Reform
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37591/ijhml.v9i2.2132Keywords:
Psycholegal reform, Prison rehabilitation, Restorative justice, Prisoner’s rights, Therapeutic jurisprudence.Abstract
The Indian jail system still operates primarily in a punitive manner, using incarceration as the main form of punishment rather than as a chance for rehabilitation and behavioral modification. This study examines the psycholegal aspects of prison reform, emphasizing the pressing need to switch from punitive to restorative, psychologically based correctional methods. The systematic disconnect between the legal acknowledgment of inmates rights and the psychological harm inflicted by custodial environments which leads to high recidivism, mental illness, social alienation, and inadequate correctional outcomes is the research problem being addressed.
The study aims to accomplish three main research goals:
(a) To use a psycholegal lens to analyze the legal, constitutional, and judicial underpinnings of prisoners' rights in India.
(b) To analyze the psychological effects of incarceration, such as trauma, identity degradation, and stigma following release.
(3) To suggest a reform model that incorporates restorative justice, therapeutic jurisprudence, and mental health frameworks into prison policy.
The main contention put forth is that real prison reform is impossible without the integration of psychological sciences and legal frameworks to develop systems of rehabilitation rather than punishment. The results show that prisons that only concentrate on retribution and deterrence are unable to provide long-term public safety, while models that include victim-offender reconciliation, community sentencing, skill development, and counseling result in reduced recidivism and better reintegration into society.
According to the paper's conclusion, there must be a psycholegal shift in penal philosophy that emphasizes human dignity, rehabilitation, and restoration as essential elements of justice. In addition to being consistent with the constitution, this shift is also criminologically effective and psychologically required for long-lasting change.
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