Analysis

Most prisoners sentenced to death in India have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment during their judicial process. This can take several years given the duration of the procedures.
As soon as their death sentence is confirmed, prisoners are subject to a distinct prison regime. For the majority of them, this comes into effect as soon as they are first convicted.
Detention conditions and daily life vary by prison and by state: some prisons subject all their prisoners to a single regime while others segregate their prisoners sentenced to death. The needs of women facing the death penalty are neglected.
The prison administration consistently allocates few resources to food, hygiene and health. Moreover, the remoteness of prisons, the cost of transport, and the negligible means of prisoners’ families either weaken family ties and decrease the frequency of visits or make them altogether impossible.

Prison Insider gathered information on the detention conditions of people sentenced to death in nine countries. Here is an overview of the situation in India.

— The information presented comes principally from the contributions of Project 39A— a research project founded by National Law University, Delhi — and Volumes I and II of their report Death penalty India released in 2016. Additional sources were also used which are mentioned when referenced.

Project 39A has documented several cases of persons kept in solitary confinement for up to ten years.