Bosnia and Herzegovina: Republika Srpska

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CountryBosnia and Herzegovina: Republika Srpska
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Division for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions
Contact address
Vuka Karadzica 4, 51000 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Telephone
+387 51 331 582
Fax
+387 51 331 594
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Pero Dunjic
Assistant Minister of Justice
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
524
at 1.1.2023 (via Council of Europe)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
44
based on an estimated national population of 1.2 million at beginning of January 2023 (from Census figures and other estimates)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
20.5%
(31.12.2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.1%
(31.12.2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.1%
(31.12.2022 - under 18 at date of sentence)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.5%
(31.12.2022)
Number of establishments / institutions
6
(2022 - Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Doboj, East Sarajevo, Foca, Trebinje)
Official capacity of prison system
1 319
(1.1.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
39.7%
(1.1.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1998 791 57
2001 849 61
2002 866 62
2004 1,052 75
2006 906 65
2008 910 65
2010 1,046 75
2012 1,027 73
2014 940 71
2016 863 66
2018 791 66
2020 556 46
1998 791 57
2001 849 61
2002 866 62
2004 1,052 75
2006 906 65
2008 910 65
2010 1,046 75
2012 1,027 73
2014 940 71
2016 863 66
2018 791 66
2020 556 46

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. 

                 BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

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

182
188
190
87

21.4%
19.7%
18.2%
9.9%

13
13
14
7

2022

107

20.5%

9

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. 

                        BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2005
2010
2015

23
14
19
14

2.7%
1.5%
1.8%
1.6%

1.6
1.0
1.4
1.1

2022

11

2.1%

0.9

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