St. John College Students on Crime and Mental Health

Prison Visit 

St. John College Psychological Counselling Certificate Program Students had a conversation with Central Prison officials on the nature of the crime, prison inmates and their mental health issues on March 19. They understood that a prison is a place for reformation, rehabilitation, and reorientation and the various positive steps taken by the prison authorities for the welfare of prison inmates. The prison officials explained that people commit crimes due to the social conditions and therefore it is the society that needs to work on reducing crimes. It was understood that the crime rate is less compared to India and prison is not overcrowded as often reported in India. The various rehabilitation steps taken inside the prison is highly commendable in helping the prison inmates and sending them back to society as reformed individuals. Regular evangelical activities, wellbeing measures by NGOs and reorientation by different groups of people are focused on helping the prison inmates to understand and accept their status and return back to society as normal citizens. The students understood the role of society in reducing crimes, pledged to remove stigma on prisoners and accept the inmates as normal citizens once they are rehabilitated and reoriented. The students also visited the Zoological park and had some fun time.