St. Kitts and Nevis

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CountrySt. Kitts and Nevis
Ministry responsible
Ministry of National Security
Contact address
Her Majesty’s Prison, Cayon Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts
Telephone
(869) 465-2241
Website
Email
hmprison@govt.kn
Head of prison administration (and title)
Terrance James
Commissioner of Corrections
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
Circa
160
at April 2022 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
Circa
296
based on an estimated national population of 54,000 at April 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
30.5%
(June 2017)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.6%
(June 2017)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
7.3%
(26.8.2013 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.1%
(26.8.2013)
Number of establishments / institutions
2
(2014 - main prison at Basseterre and prison farm on Nevis)
Official capacity of prison system
232
(2014)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
144.0%
(2014)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1999 135 300
2003 195 424
2006 237 499
2008 271 563
2010 256 522
2012 366 732
2014 334 655
2016 219 424
2018 c 205 c 392
2020 184 347
1999 135 300
2003 195 424
2006 237 499
2008 271 563
2010 256 522
2012 366 732
2014 334 655
2016 219 424
2018 c 205 c 392
2020 184 347

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. 

                                           ST KITTS and NEVIS

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2005
2010
2013

29
57
57
98

21.5%
27.3%
20.7%
29.7%

64
115
110
181

2017

67

30.5%

120

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.

                                             ST KITTS & NEVIS  

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2005
2010
2014

5
7
10

2.4%
2.5%
3.0%

10.1
13.5
18.2

2017

8

3.6%

14.3

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