Question

Identify the advantages of open prisons in India:
A. They help in reducing over crowding in jails.
B. They facilitate the notorious inmates to elope and reduce stress of supervision and control.
C. They offer opportunities for self-improvement and resocialization to the inmates.
D. They help under trials to stay away from convicts and make work of prison administration hassle free.
E. The operational cost of open prisons is far less than the enclosed prisons.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, B & C Only
• B. A, C & E Only
• C. B, C & D Only
• D. B, D & E Only

Hint:

Open Prisons = Trust-based reform. They save money and help good prisoners become citizens again. They are not for high-risk criminals or under-trials.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept:

• Open prisons are based on the philosophy of trust and minimum security.
• They are intended for well-behaved, convicted prisoners who have completed a significant part of their sentence.

Step 1: Evaluate Statement A
By moving well-behaved inmates to open facilities, the pressure on heavily congested closed central and district jails is significantly reduced. This is a major structural advantage.
Thus, A is correct.

Step 2: Evaluate Statement B
"Facilitating notorious inmates to elope" is a security failure, not an advantage. Open prisons are generally not meant for "notorious" or "hardened" criminals but for those who show potential for reform.
Thus, B is incorrect.

Step 3: Evaluate Statement C
The primary goal of open prisons is to treat the prisoner with dignity and provide a semi-free environment that helps in their resocialization and self-improvement before final release.
Thus, C is correct.

Step 4: Evaluate Statement D
Open prisons are for convicted prisoners. Separation of undertrials from convicts is a requirement for closed prisons and jails, not a specific function or "advantage" of the open prison system itself.
Thus, D is incorrect.

Step 5: Evaluate Statement E
Because they require fewer armed guards, no high walls, and less sophisticated security infrastructure, the per-prisoner operational cost is much lower than in high-security closed prisons.
Thus, E is correct.

Step 6: Final Selection
Since A, C, and E are the only correct advantages, the answer is option (B).