Journal of Research and Development in Comparative Law

Journal of Research and Development in Comparative Law

Minimizing Imprisonment: A Comparative Study of Islamic Jurisprudence, the Criminal Justice System of Iran and the United States

Document Type : scientific research paper

Authors
Karam Janipour 1
Ali Salehi 2
Zeinab Salehi 3
1 Department of Law, Yasuj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasuj, Iran
2 Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Yasuj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasuj, Iran
3 Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/law.2025.2058960.1642
Abstract
Using a comparative and descriptive-analytical research method, this article examines the approaches to minimizing imprisonment in three legal systems: Islamic jurisprudence, Iranian criminal justice system, and the U.S. criminal justice system. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the theoretical and practical foundations for reducing the use of imprisonment and to evaluate its impacts on the efficiency of judicial systems and social structures. In Islamic jurisprudence, relying upon principles such as human dignity, restorative justice, and the rehabilitative purpose of punishments, the use of imprisonment and introduced suitable alternatives such as fines, community service, and rehabilitation programs have minimized.
This perspective aligns perfectly with Islam's philosophy of punishment, which emphasizes the rehabilitation of offenders. Although Iranian criminal justice system still considers imprisonment as one of its primary sanctions, it has taken significant steps toward reducing prison populations through legislation such as the "Reduction of Discretionary Imprisonment Act" (2019). This Act aims to reduce the heavy costs of maintaining prisons and improve prison conditions, though it faces challenges such as insufficient implementation infrastructure. In contrast, the U.S. criminal justice system, through strict policies like the "War on Drugs" and "Three Strikes Law" has achieved one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. However, in recent years, numerous federal and state laws have been enacted to reduce federal prison populations by expanding alternative sanctions and rehabilitation programs. The comparative study reveals that both system of Iran and the U.S. recognize the necessity of reducing imprisonment, but there are significant differences in their levels of success and administrative methods. To improve Iranian criminal justice system, it is recommended to adopt measures such as developing community-oriented punishment, strengthening prison rehabilitation programs, reducing long-term sentences, and increasing civil society participation. These reforms could while reducing economic costs, enhance the efficiency of the justice system, and reduce recidivism rates.
Keywords
Minimization of imprisonment
Islamic jurisprudence
Iranian criminal justice system
U.S. criminal justice system
reduction of discretionary imprisonment
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