International Journal of Law

Authors
Gurmeet Nehra

Abstract
No society can be a crime free society therefore; the institution of prison is indispensable one. In ancient and medieval times prisoners were treated as deprecated being, kept in solitary confinement and subjected to penal servitude. So, in the very beginning prisons were to deter the offender as the life in prison is isolated which acts as deterrent factor. It also fulfills the preventive purpose of punishment. Earlier prisons were mere detention houses. It keeps the criminals and offenders under custody and away from society.