The stigma attached to prisoners makes it incredibly difficult for ex-offenders, especially women, to reintegrate into society.
Published Nov 22, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 22, 2024 | 9:54 AM
Once released, instead of finding a second chance, women face cold stares, whispered judgments, and outright rejection. (Pic: Kerala Prisons)
A prison is considered a place of correction and transformation, where individuals can atone for their past mistakes and emerge as reformed citizens.
It also provides an opportunity to rebuild lives and reconnect with society after the completion of jail term. However, the present situation often falls short of this ideal.
The stigma attached to prisoners makes it incredibly difficult for ex-offenders, especially women, to reintegrate into society. This grim reality of societal rejection was revealed in a study by the Kerala State Women’s Commission.
It found that the stigma pushed these women into society’s margins, forcing many to live in the shadows, away from opportunities to integrate into the mainstream.
As part of the study, the Commission surveyed 50 women aged 35–60, who had served at least six months in prison between 2010 and 2017. The study focused on eight districts, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kollam, Kottayam and Kasaragod.
The study revealed a distressing picture of their socioeconomic and psychological struggles. Further discussions with prison authorities, police officials, and social justice representatives highlighted systemic gaps and societal failures in aiding these women’s reintegration.
The findings reveald a staggering reality—47 of the 50 women exhibited very low socio-psychological levels, with only three managing average levels of adjustment.
Not a single respondent released after 2015 reported achieving personal or social stability. Their struggles, compounded by family breakdowns and social ostracisation, reflected a system where incarceration was just the beginning of their battles.
Most women in the study attributed their downfall to toxic family environments marked by alcoholism, abuse, and betrayal.
Financial stress, disintegrated family structures, and exploitative relationships were recurring themes. An overwhelming 95% of respondents stated, “If I had a good family, I wouldn’t have been like this.”
The women interviewed shared harrowing accounts of broken families, abusive relationships, and betrayal. Many described being exploited emotionally and financially by people they trusted, compounding their vulnerability.
Once released, instead of finding a second chance, these women face cold stares, whispered judgments, and outright rejection.
Most found themselves unwelcome in their own homes, and the few who manage to return are subjected to relentless verbal and physical abuse.
Kerala’s progressive image, bolstered by high literacy and public health indicators, did not reflect the reality faced by these women. Ostracisation, especially by other women, emerged as a painful irony.
Educated women and community groups, including grassroots organisations like Kudumbashree, often shun them, exacerbating their alienation.
“When we step out of prison, people see us as criminals, not as human beings who made mistakes. The stigma of having served a prison term continues to haunt us in every sphere of life,” one of the participants said.
This stigma has forced many to withdraw from social life and avoid public initiatives, further pushing them into isolation.
The study also shed light on how the neglect they faced often led them to associate with people from similar backgrounds—those involved in illegal activities such as drug trafficking or prostitution.
“These groups do not judge us and offer anonymity and financial sustenance,” one woman admitted in the study. “But they also make it harder for us to escape the cycle of crime.”
Employment has been remaining a major hurdle for women trying to rebuild their lives.
Most respondents shared that potential employers, including households hiring domestic help, were reluctant to employ them due to their criminal records. As a result, many women were forced to hide their past, often relocating or even changing their names.
Yet, living under such veils created constant fear.
“Even if I find a job, I’m always worried about being exposed,” said another participant in the study. This fear often drove them toward jobs that do not require disclosure of their pasts but are high-risk and exploitative, like drug peddling and prostitution.
The study said that only a handful of the women interviewed had ventured into small-scale self-employment, such as sewing or running modest businesses.
A mere one among 50 had secured employment in a supermarket.
It was also revealed that the government’s financial assistance of ₹25,000, meant to aid reintegration, was rejected by many out of fear that accepting it would expose their past.
The study highlighted how the lack of an empathetic social framework forces these women to internalize their struggles.
“Many of us feel it is our destiny to live and die with this tag,” said one of the women.
The study pointed out that even initiatives within prisons, such as skill training and psychological empowerment programmes, failed to yield results because the societal environment outside remains hostile.
Going by the findings, it has to be presumed that the social justice framework of the state has also fallen short.
While the prisoners were provided skill training like in umbrella making and handicrafts, there has been little follow-up support to ensure these women can transition into self-reliance.
Moreover, the fear of physical abuse or harassment from workplaces further detered them from seeking employment, pushing them deeper into despair.
The study underscored the urgent need for a cultural shift.
“Kerala society must learn to integrate these women,” it stated, recommending targeted policy interventions to ensure their dignity and inclusion.
Respondents, while calling for government-backed social awareness campaigns to combat stigma, also stressed the need for long-term rehabilitation measures that go beyond financial aid, including community empowerment programmes.
“An empowered society is key to an inclusive society,” the study concluded, emphasising the importance of building trust and acceptance.
In the study, many women spoke about the intellectual awakening they experienced through reading in prison but lamented the absence of emotional support in their lives.
“If someone had sat beside me and comforted me, my life would have been different,” was the common refrain of the participants.
Meanwhile, officials of the Social Justice Department of Kerala said that they were conducting a comprehensive study to address the unique challenges faced by women prisoners, ex-prisoners, and probationers in the state.
Recognising that socio-psychological, economic, and family backgrounds often predispose individuals to criminal behavior, the study sought to explore how adverse life circumstances—such as poverty, lack of education, unemployment, unstable family environments, and exposure to violence—contribute to criminal involvement.
It also aimed to understand the stigma and difficulties faced by individuals, particularly women, after their release, which often pushed them back into the same conditions that had led to their incarceration.
“The experiences and challenges of women offenders are vastly different from those of their male counterparts. With limited data on the specific issues faced by women offenders, the initiative seeks to address this gap by proposing gender-sensitive schemes and policies tailored to their unique needs,” official told South First.
Some of the objectives of the study included, examining the socio-economic and family circumstances leading women prisoners, ex-prisoners, and probationers toward criminal activities, studying existing support systems, including educational opportunities, legal aid, healthcare, and other rehabilitation activities, and identify necessary improvements, investigating specific challenges related to family support, living conditions, and the reintegration of women prisoners into society after their release and others.
However, in September 2023 the department invited an expression of interest from universities, colleges, research institutes and voluntary organisations for carrying out the said study. It remains unknown whether the study has been commenced, and who was conducting it.
The officials did not divulged the details.
Studies on women prisoners highlighted the severe emotional, social, and economic challenges they face during incarceration and after release.
A 2020 study by Prof. Deepti Shrivastava, titled ‘Social, Psychological and Economic Problems of Women Prisoners and their Accompanying Children and Status of their Rehabilitation’, analysed 1,425 inmates across five states. It revealed that 59% of women prisoners felt emotionally numb, while 73.6% experienced emotional insecurity due to fear of social stigma.
The report underscored the lack of adequate preparatory measures for reintegration, with 54% expressing dissatisfaction with the support provided before their release.
The findings emphasised that these issues were predominantly social rather than legal, requiring joint efforts from the criminal justice system, society, and other stakeholders.
Similarly, the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s report, Women in Prisons, noted that reintegration into society was a significant hurdle due to stigma, loss of family ties, and lack of economic independence.
The Women Prisoners Rehabilitation Report 2023 by Maharashtra’s Prisons Department further revealed that many families refused to welcome women prisoners post-release, exacerbating their social alienation.
These women often struggled with a lack of shelter, financial stability, and job opportunities.
To address these challenges, the reports recommended skill training and financial empowerment programmes within prisons to prepare women for an independent living.
NGOs can play a pivotal role by providing post-release support, including income-generation activities and transitional shelters, fostering a smoother reintegration into society.
All these reports stressed the need for holistic support systems that ensure dignity, safety, and opportunities for women prisoners to rebuild their lives effectively.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
