Assam's Jail Overcrowding Crisis: A Growing Concern

Rising Inmate Numbers in Assam Prisons

Guwahati, Oct 12: The issue of overcrowding in Assam's prisons has escalated significantly in recent years, particularly affecting male inmates.

As of December 31, 2023, the overall occupancy rate in Assam's correctional facilities reached 105.3%, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

This figure marks a notable increase from 2018, when the occupancy rate was recorded at just 93.2%.

At the close of 2023, the total inmate count across Assam's 31 jails was 10,652, surpassing the available capacity of 10,120.

Assam's prison system comprises 31 facilities, including six central jails, 22 district jails, and one each of sub-jail, open jail, and special jail.

The combined capacity for male inmates across all prisons stood at 9,341, while the actual inmate population was 10,247, resulting in an occupancy rate of 109.7%.

In contrast, female inmates numbered 405 against a capacity of 779, leading to a much lower occupancy rate of 52%.

Within the six central jails, the inmate population was 4,213, with a total capacity of 4,490, yielding an occupancy rate of 93.8%.

However, the overcrowding issue was more pronounced in the 22 district jails, which housed 5,904 inmates against a capacity of 5,020, resulting in a staggering occupancy rate of 117.6%.

Additionally, the special jail in Assam reported 459 inmates, exceeding its capacity of 442, leading to an occupancy rate of 103.8% as of December 31, 2023.

The solitary sub-jail had 57 inmates, with a total capacity of 68, translating to an occupancy rate of 83.8%.

Meanwhile, the open jail had only 19 inmates compared to its capacity of 100, resulting in a mere 19% occupancy rate.

Nationally, the average occupancy rate in prisons at the end of 2023 was 120.8%, an increase from 117.6% in 2018.

In comparison to other northeastern states, Nagaland's jail occupancy was only 39.7%, while Tripura's was 56.6% at the end of 2023.

Occupancy rates were 46.1% in Manipur, 141.2% in Mizoram, 94% in Arunachal Pradesh, and a staggering 188.7% in Meghalaya.

Furthermore, Assam's prisons reported 70 foreign inmates as of December 31, 2023, including seven convicts and 63 under-trials.

All seven foreign convicts were from Bangladesh, while the under-trials included 34 from Bangladesh, 20 from Myanmar, one from Nigeria, one from a North American country, and seven from other nations, according to the data.