Community Service as a Correctional Measure in Indian Penal System

Eradicating sinner to eliminate the sin is one of the most criticized matter in human history. Punishment as a remedy for the mischief committed by offenders may not be an effective formula to supress crimes in an evolving society. It merely invokes the feeling of revenge among the convicts and creates probability of post-traumatic stress to the convicts of petty offences. Correcting offenders is more of a philosophical concept which deals with wide range of variable factors revolving around a human being rather than a Legal concept which is limited to prescribing substantial remedies and mechanism for enforcing the same. Community service is one of the most effective techniques which aims to reform the offender by indulging them into social work. Community service refers to an unpaid social work , generally carried out to support the social welfare activities which serves as an alternative to prison punishment. These include sanitation activities, serving at old age homes, maintaining public facilities, educational or awareness programs, charity work etc. The primary aim of restoration is to promote development in the personality and the character of the offender, in order to make him a sensible member of society. Apart from correcting Offenders Community Service serves multiple valuable benefits to the society as well. Such benefits validates Community Service to be one of the most effective method for reformation therefore aligning with global trends in restorative justice and a step away from purely punitive methods.