Agenda Item Five
Ways and Means of Enhancing the Rehabilitation
Function of Corrections in Nepal
Dr.
Meen B. Poudyal Chhetri
Beijing, PRC. Under Secretary
Ministry of Home Affairs, Nepal.
Correction system has not been effective enough in any country
though this is one of the most important functions of the State.
It is guided by the principles of punishment and not by reformation
and rehabilitation. Most of the existing problems in this field
have not yet been solved even if the correction officials and
other concerned authorities are well aware of them. This is so
mainly because of the resource constraints and organizational
and physical weaknesses.
These days, restorative justice is being felt necessary which
involves the offender, the victim and the community to create
a favourable situation whereby the offender and the victims may
be equally benefited. Similarly, meditation techniques have been
found to be a very effective tool in the rehabilitation of prisoners.
These techniques, more practiced in Nepal and India only, need
to be recognized and expanded globally. The fundamental principles
of rehabilitation are to establish good relationship between
the victim, the offender and the community. For this, adequate
resources, well-trained prison personnel and effective rehabilitation
programmes are very necessary. All concerned should be well aware
that if the prisoners are not reformed or rehabilitated properly,
they could be more dangerous to the society when they are freed.
Moreover, the correction officials should be aware of the principles,
objectives and international standards of the punishment and
imprisonment.
The correctional authorities should always keep the universal
principles in mind that a person is sent to prison as punishment,
not for further punishment. Thus he/she does not become a non-person
by virtue of the fact of imprisonment. The state and its institutions
are intended to serve the society, not the society to serve the
state. Therefore, the prisoners are entitled to all rights within
the limitation of legally justifiable incarceration. With this
in view, we have to enhance the rehabilitation function of corrections
for which the community should be involved and the offenders
are to be sensitized.
Catch words: Restorative Justice, Meditation, Mediation, Restitution,
Remission, Sensitize, Dehumanization.
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