Protection of Women Prisoners in the State of Tamil Nadu – An Analysis

Abstract

Crime is the violation of the rules and regulations enforced by the society from time to time for which definite punishment is prescribed by law. Members in every society are expected to act according to its established norms and laws. But when an individual finds it difficult to satisfy his needs and desires in socially accepted manner, he tries to find an alternative to meet out his desires and needs. The alternate chosen by him is criminality. It is not easy to sociologically define crime particularly because of its implicit roots in the concept of crime. The concept of crime depends on the ideas, Philosophies and culture of every society. It goes on changing when there is a change in the values and attitudes of society, what is considered as crime in one culture, may not be considered so in another culture. What act is looked upon as crime to day, may not have been regarded as such yesterday and vice versa. When the new regulations are imposed in society due to change, particularly of technological nature, the concept of crime assumes new meaning. The culture and philosophy of a society is determined to a great extent by the geographical environment of the region and accordingly the laws are made. Therefore, the laws differ from culture to culture. As the laws differ from culture to culture, the crimes also differ from culture to culture and from time to time. Half of the world's prison population of about nine million is held in the US, China or Russia. Prison rates in the US are the world's highest, at 724 people per 100,000. In Russia the rate is 581. At 145 per 100,000, the imprisonment rate of England and Wales is at about the midpoint worldwide. Many of the lowest rates are in developing countries, but overcrowding can be a serious problem. Kenyan prisons have an occupancy level of 343.7%