Reading and planting trees as punishment

We are pleasantly surprised to learn from a Prothom Alo report that rather than sentencing nine youths, aged between 19 and 24, to three months imprisonment in a drug abuse case filed against them (which is a regular sentence in such cases), a Magura court has put these youths under probation and directed them to read books, watch films and plant trees. According to the court verdict, they will be under the supervision of a probation officer of the local social welfare office for one year, and if they break any of the conditions and engage in any kind of criminal activity during this time, they will then be given three-months imprisonment.

The court deserves our appreciation for implementing such a novel idea of punishment. Taking corrective measures against young offenders instead of sentencing them to harsh punishment is particularly important because what happens when young people are sent to jail on petty charges is, they get acquainted with hardened criminals, which in effect may lead them to commit bigger crimes once they are free. Similarly, sending young offenders straight to jail on charges of drug abuse only reduces their chances of assimilating into society with support from their families and friends. In addition, when someone who has served a jail term comes back to their regular life, they often feel alienated as they are not taken very positively by their family members, friends, as well as by the society at large.

It would be relevant to mention here the recent declaration of the High Court which says that actions of executive magistrate-run mobile courts convicting children and sentencing them to imprisonments for different tenures on criminal charges are illegal and unconstitutional. This declaration will surely help in dealing with the cases where children are involved.

Coming back to the case of Magura, we think the verdict given by the local court was a step in the right direction. It would definitely help these youths to overcome their vulnerability towards drug abuse and also go a long way to build a society which is more tolerant.