Dominica

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CountryDominica
Ministry responsible
Prime Minister's Office
Prison administration
Dominica Prison Service
Contact address
His Majesty's Prison, Stock Farm, Roseau, Dominica
Telephone
+1 767 448 2631 or 3329
Fax
+1 767 448 6738
Website
Email
prisonservices@dominica.gov.dm
Head of prison administration (and title)
Kenrick Jean-Jacques
Superintendent of Prison
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
261
at November 2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
348
based on an estimated national population of 75,000 at November 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
50.2%
(November 2023)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.1%
(November 2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.0%
(November 2023 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
9.2%
(November 2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
1
(2023 - Dominica State Prison)
Official capacity of prison system
300
(July 2015)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
73.0%
(July 2015)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2001 215 307
2002 223 319
2004 290 414
2006 301 424
2008 235 331
2010 295 415
2012 275 382
2014 187 260
2016 211 289
2020 222 300
2001 215 307
2002 223 319
2004 290 414
2006 301 424
2008 235 331
2010 295 415
2012 275 382
2014 187 260
2016 211 289
2020 222 300

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. 

                                                    DOMINICA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2005
2011
2015
 
58
60
50
 
20.1%
23.4%
22.8%
 
82
84
68
 
202313150.2%175

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. 

                                                  DOMINICA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2005
2010
2015

1
6
3

0.3%
2.1%
1.4%

1.4
8.8
4.1

2023

3

1.1%

4.0

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