Lock Unlock: The Impact of COVID-19 on Health Security in Pakistani and Indian Prisons

ABSTRACT

This paper assesses the state of COVID-19 in the Pakistani and Indian prison systems. Using publicly available data, governmental documents, media, and non-profit organization reports, and scholarly literature, we provide an overview of COVID-19 in each country and the current state of each nation’s prison system. We then analyze the impact of the novel coronavirus on the corrections systems and each government’s response to the virus in its prison infrastructure. The pandemic provides both Pakistan and India with the opportunity to change course and move toward a more sustainable prison system that protects human rights while bolstering health security.

KEYWORDS:

• India
• Pakistan
• health security
• prisons
• cross-national
• Covid-19
• Pandemic
• Alternatives to incarceration
• Early release mechanisms
• Prison reform

Notes

1. The eight member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka (Dmello, 2019; NTI Nuclear Security Index [NTI], 2011).

2. The trial status of some prisoners was unavailable.

3. JPP collected data from official government figures, leaked reports, and media reports. For a full list of sources, see: (JPP, 2020a).