Sociological Analysis on Prisoners; with special reference to prisoners of Death Penalty and Life Imprisonment in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Capital punishment is legal in Sri Lanka as many other countries as India, Japan, Bangladesh, Iran and Iraq so on. When compared unconvicted prisoners from 2006-2010 there is an increase. It was 89190 in 2006 and it was 100191 in 2010. There were 28732 of convicted prisoners and it was 32128 in 2010. There were 165 Death sentences in 2006 and it was 96 in 2010. There are 540 individuals had been sentenced to death. The death penalty has not been implemented in Sri Lanka since 1976.Research problem: What are the main causes for getting capital punishment and life imprisonment? What are the feelings of prisoners as waiting for death?’ Objectives of the study were identifying prisoners’ point of view on their punishment and root causes for their offence.This was a basic research. Case studies were conducted to identify the research problem and data were collected using formal interviews. Research area was Welikada prison. Stratified sampling method in probability samplings was used. Sample size was 20 cases from death penalty and life in prison prisoners and 20 from other convicted prisoners. There were organized crimes and instantaneous crimes against human and property. Findings revealed causes and feelings them as offenders. Death penalty and life imprisonment were been punished especially for drug selling and murders. The end of life imprisonment decided by nature; but the date of death penalty will be decided by the president of the state. Still there is no decision on implementing the death penalty in Sri Lanka. These both categories of prisoners need if implementing death penalty or freedom. Some of them need to convert death sentence to life imprisonment. They are physically and mentally damaged after their imprisonment. Lack of hope and as well as lack of welfare and rehabilitation programs they suffered their lives in the prison.