Imagine being forced to live in a confined space, without any room to breathe, personal space, or the chance to engage in constructive activities. This paints an accurate picture of the reality faced by millions of inmates across the globe due to prison overcrowding. Overcrowding in prisons has become a critical issue in many countries, eroding the basic human rights of individuals and making the goal of successful rehabilitation an uphill battle.
The aim of incarceration, traditionally, extends beyond mere punishment; it includes the rehabilitation of the offender. Rehabilitation seeks to help inmates reintegrate into society post-incarceration by equipping them with useful skills and addressing behavioral issues. However, the overcrowded conditions of prisons pose severe threats to these rehabilitative efforts, creating environments that are counterproductive to the positive change that rehabilitation aims to engender.
