Sao Tome e Principe

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CountrySao Tome e Principe
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice, State Reform and Public Administration
Prison administration
Serviços Prisionais e de Reinserção Social
Contact address
Joao de Deus, Sao Tome, Caixa Postal 299, Republic of Sao Tome e Principe
Telephone
+239 2225426 / 2221030 / 2221985
Website
http://www.justica.gov.st/organiques/DSPRS.php
Email
mjapdh@hotmail.com
Head of prison administration (and title)
Denylson Fernando das Neves Cunha
Diretor-Geral dos Serviços Prisionais e de Reinserção Social
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
Circa
260
at 2020 (via U.S. State Department human rights report)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
Circa
115
based on an estimated national population of 227,000 at mid-2020 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
Circa
20.0%
(2020)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.0%
(5.10.2018)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(October 2017 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.8%
(April 2002)
Number of establishments / institutions
1
(2020)
Official capacity of prison system
200
(2020)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
Circa
130.0%
(2020)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2002 130 90
2005 155 99
2006 160 101
2009 240 139
2010 305 171
2012 217 115
2014 201 101
2016 178 85
2018 253 116
2002 130 90
2005 155 99
2006 160 101
2009 240 139
2010 305 171
2012 217 115
2014 201 101
2016 178 85
2018 253 116

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. 

                                               SAO TOME E PRINCIPE

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2006
2010
2014

76
72
87
22

58.5%
45.0%
28.5%
10.9%

53
45
49
11

2020

52

c. 20%

23

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.

                                                SAO TOME E PRINCIPE 

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2009
2015

3
7
6

2.3%
2.9%
3.4%

2.1
4.0
2.9

2018

10

4.0%

4.6

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