The existence of punishment in the form of reform has been cause célèbre for a long time. The aim of punishment in any civil society is to act as a wall between the commission and the will to commit a crime. Thus, it seems the aim is deterrent, rather than reformative, which would establish the need to develop as a human being and not further put them through humiliation and anguish. The deplorable conditions of Indian Prisons and penal system in general has been the pillar to promote violence and criminal behaviour rather than act as a place of rehabilitation. Whereas a true reformatory system aims to promote the humanity in criminals, by reforming their personalities and provide adequate infrastructure to develop their personality while granting them a chance at a better future. In this paper, the author tries to analyse the current reformatory system in India and the need to revamp the same.

Keywords: Reformative, prison, punishment, penology, criminology

DOI: http://doi.one/10.1732/IJLMH.25384