Trinidad and Tobago

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CountryTrinidad and Tobago
Ministry responsible
Ministry of National Security
Prison administration
Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service
Contact address
10-14 Phillip Street, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
Telephone
+1 868 623 7070
Website
Email
info@prison.gov.tt
Head of prison administration (and title)
Deopersad Ramoutar
Acting Commissioner of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
3 802
at April 2021 (Minister of National Security)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
276
based on an estimated national population of 1.38 million at April 2021 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
59.7%
(18.9.2018)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.9%
(18.9.2018)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.9%
(18.9.2018 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
Circa
0.8%
(March 2018)
Number of establishments / institutions
9
(2022)
Official capacity of prison system
4 886
(18.9.2018)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
81.8%
(18.9.2018)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 4,633 365
2002 4,315 337
2004 3,924 304
2006 3,514 268
2008 3,732 283
2010 3,766 283
2012 3,800 284
2015 3,667 270
2018 3,999 292
2000 4,633 365
2002 4,315 337
2004 3,924 304
2006 3,514 268
2008 3,732 283
2010 3,766 283
2012 3,800 284
2015 3,667 270
2018 3,999 292

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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. 

                                               TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2008
2011

1,475
1,573
1,595
2,098

31.8%
42.2%
41.9%
52.1%

116
121
121
155

2018

2,389

59.7%

174

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.

                                               TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2004
2007
2009
2014

120
122
148
90

3.1%
3.4%
4.0%
2.6%

9.3
9.3
11.2
6.7

2018

117

2.9%

8.5

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