CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: A SOCIO-LEGAL ANALYSIS OF CRIME PREVENTION AND URBAN PLANNING IN INDIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/chkndm60Keywords:
Crime prevention, Urbanisation, Criminal justice system, Urban planning, Social developmentAbstract
India’s rapid urban transformation has reshaped the social and institutional contexts within which crime is produced, experienced, and governed. This article examines crime prevention through a socio-legal lens by analysing the interconnections between urban development processes, social vulnerability, criminal justice capacity, and urban planning interventions in India. Drawing on official secondary data from national crime statistics, prison records, urban development programmes, and selected socio-economic indicators, the study adopts a descriptive and contextual analytical approach to interpret urban-relevant crime trends and institutional responses. The findings indicate that while overall recorded crime has declined in recent years, specific offence categories closely associated with urban conditions-most notably cyber crimes and crimes against senior citizens-have increased. The analysis further reveals significant institutional strain within the criminal justice system, reflected in persistent prison overcrowding and a high proportion of undertrial detainees. Large-scale urban planning initiatives implemented under national development programmes provide an important contextual backdrop for rethinking crime prevention beyond enforcement-centric models. The study underscores the need for a more integrated understanding of crime prevention as a component of social development and urban governance in India.
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