Czech Republic

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CountryCzech Republic
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Ministerstvo Spravedlnosti)
Prison administration
Prison Service of the Czech Republic (Vezenska Sluzba Ceske Republiky)
Contact address
Soudni 1672/1a, P.O. Box 3, CZ-14067 PRAGUE 4, Czech Republic
Telephone
+420 244 024 111
Fax
+420 241 409 072
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Petr Dohnal
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
19 768
at 29.2.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
181
based on an estimated national population of 10.93 million at end of February 2024 (from Czech Statistical Office figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
7.9%
(29.2.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
8.7%
(29.2.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.5%
(29.2.2024 - juveniles)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
8.1%
(29.2.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions
35
(2023)
Official capacity of prison system
20 367
(29.2.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
97.1%
(29.2.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 21,538 210
2002 16,213 159
2004 18,343 179
2006 18,578 181
2008 20,502 196
2010 21,900 209
2012 22,641 215
2014 18,658 177
2016 22,481 212
2018 21,577 203
2020 19,286 180
2000 21,538 210
2002 16,213 159
2004 18,343 179
2006 18,578 181
2008 20,502 196
2010 21,900 209
2012 22,641 215
2014 18,658 177
2016 22,481 212
2018 21,577 203
2020 19,286 180

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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. 

                                                   CZECH REPUBLIC

 

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
2010
2015

5,967
2,860
2,499
1,960

27.7%
15.1%
11.4%
9.4%

58
28
24
19

2024

1,560

7.9%

14

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.

                                                 CZECH REPUBLIC

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015

968
909
1,293
1,433

4.5%
4.8%
5.9%
6.9%

9.4
8.9
12.3
13.6

2024

1,715

8.7%

15.7

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