Jamaica

Donate to WPB
CountryJamaica
Ministry responsible
Ministry of National Security and Justice
Prison administration
Department of Correctional Services
Contact address
5-7 King Street, Kingston, Jamaica
Telephone
+1 (876) 922 0021
Website
Email
communications@dcs.gov.jm
Head of prison administration (and title)
Lt. Col. (Retired) Gary Rowe
Commissioner of Correctional Services
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
3 559
at 2.7.2022 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
125
based on an estimated national population of 2.85 million at beginning of July 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
22.5%
(31.8.2021)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.0%
(31.8.2021)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
5.4%
(31.8.2021 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.2%
(31.8.2021)
Number of establishments / institutions
11
(2021 - 7 prisons for adults, 4 for juveniles)
Official capacity of prison system
4 276
(31.8.2021)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
87.0%
(31.8.2021)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2003 4,744 178
2005 4,825 180
2007 4,709 174
2009 5,163 188
2011 4,457 161
2013 4,112 148
2015 3,860 138
2018 3,884 137
2021 3,719 130
2003 4,744 178
2005 4,825 180
2007 4,709 174
2009 5,163 188
2011 4,457 161
2013 4,112 148
2015 3,860 138
2018 3,884 137
2021 3,719 130

Pages

Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                   JAMAICA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2003
2005
2007
2009
2015

547
800
705
588
806

11.5%
16.6%
15.0%
11.4%
20.9%

21
30
26
22
29

2021

838

22.5%

29

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                   JAMAICA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2003
2007
2011
2015

371
245
285
166

7.8%
5.2%
6.4%
4.3%

14.0
9.0
10.3
5.9

2021

147

4.0%

5.2

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate