Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
PhD Student in Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Historically, imprisonment has been regarded as a primary form of punishment across various legal systems. While prisons serve as facilities for detaining offenders, their design and administration should not compromise the well-being, dignity, or psychological integrity of inmates, nor subject them to humiliation or abuse. Prisons exist to isolate criminals from society, preventing them from infringing upon the rights of others while simultaneously depriving them of the freedoms and privileges they previously held (and, by their actions, forfeited). However, this does not justify their mistreatment or the violation of their fundamental rights. Modern penology seeks to optimize the three fundamental components of the penitentiary system - prisons, prison staff, and prisoners - to improve the efficacy of rehabilitation and correctional processes. Effective penology must be scientific, ethical, humane, and aligned with both international human rights and national legal standards. Empirical evidence indicates that deficient prison administration undermines rehabilitation efforts, rendering managerial changes insufficient without systemic reform. Conversely, global practices suggest that a structured, disciplined approach - such as military oversight is more effective in maintaining order, addressing riots and disturbances, and managing crises, as it can resolve emergencies with minimal collateral damage. This study, employing a descriptive-analytical methodology and drawing upon primary and secondary legal sources, comparative case studies, and empirical data, seeks to identify shortcomings within penitentiary systems while analyzing factors that can enhance performance and compliance with human rights standards across prisons, prison staff, and prisoners - the triad underpinning institutional efficacy.
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