Legal aid cuts jail time for undertrials, but help often arrives late
Legal aid services can reduce jail time for undertrials, but their effectiveness is limited when assistance arrives late in the detention process. Early intervention is essential to mitigate the human and economic costs of pre-trial detention.
In India, a significant number of prisoners are undertrials, meaning they are awaiting trial rather than serving a sentence. Legal aid is designed to support these individuals, but its impact is often diminished if it does not reach them soon after arrest. When legal help arrives late, undertrials may spend months or even years in jail without proper guidance on their rights or bail options. This delay exacerbates the psychological stress and financial burden on their families, who often lose income while the accused is detained.
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