Health care in prisons and detention homes during COVID-19 pandemic in India

ABSTRACT

The paper deals with the legal framework for the health care in prisons and detention homes during COVID-19 pandemic in India. The World Health Organization has issued Guidance on COVID-19 for Prisons and Detention, 2020 for the health care system to deal with challenges of contagion in the arena of criminal justice system. The National Crime Record Bureau and the Prison Statistics India, 2020 revealed overcrowding and occupancy in jails as formidable threat of infection and transmission. Though the health and human rights envisages highest attainable standard of health among prisoners and detainees, ripple effect on community infection through detainees in detention homes and jails cannot be ruled out. The global outbreak of the COVID-19 has cascading effect on the health of inmates and convicts living in enclosed environments during the pandemic.