Belize

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CountryBelize
Ministry responsible
Ministry of National Security (Home Affairs)
Prison administration
Kolbe Foundation, Belize Central Prison
Contact address
Hattieville Central Prison, PO Box 88, Belize City, Belize
Telephone
+501 225 6290
Fax
+501 225 6278 or 6188
Website
Email
info@kolbe.bz
Head of prison administration (and title)
Virgilio Murrillo
Chief Executive Officer
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
1 339
at 31.10.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
312
based on an estimated national population of 429,300 at end of October 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
34.7%
(31.10.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.6%
(31.10.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.7%
(31.10.2024 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
9.1%
(31.10.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions
1
(2024 - Belize Central Prison, Hattieville)
Official capacity of prison system
2 000
(31.10.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
67.0%
(31.10.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 765 310
2002 951 363
2004 1,149 415
2006 1,363 468
2008 1,365 445
2010 1,420 441
2012 1,562 457
2014 1,527 430
2017 1,297 345
2019 1,150 296
2021 1,046 258
2000 765 310
2002 951 363
2004 1,149 415
2006 1,363 468
2008 1,365 445
2010 1,420 441
2012 1,562 457
2014 1,527 430
2017 1,297 345
2019 1,150 296
2021 1,046 258

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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. 

                                                  BELIZE

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2005
2010
2015
2020

131
330
305
434
407

14.5%
25.6%
21.8%
30.1%
30.0%

51
116
98
123
102

2024
 
465
 
34.7%
 
108
 

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.

                                                    BELIZE

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

20
29
24
39
34

2.6%
2.3%
1.7%
2.7%
2.8%

8.4
10.5
7.7
11.1
8.5

2024

48

3.6%

11.2

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