St. Kitts and Nevis

Total prison population:
Estimate
c.
160
Country
St. Kitts and Nevis
Ministry responsible
Ministry of National Security
Contact address

His Majesty’s Prison, Cayon Street, Basseterre
St Kitts & Nevis

Telephone
Head of prison administration
Franklyn Dorset, Commissioner of Corrections

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) Circac. 160
at April 2022 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) Circac. 296
based on an estimated national population of 54,000 at April 2022 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 30.5%
(June 2017)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 3.6%
(June 2017)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 7.3%
(26.8.2013 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 8.0%
(2022)
Number of establishments / institutions 2
(2014 - main prison at Basseterre and prison farm on Nevis)
Official capacity of prison system 232
(2014)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) 144.0%
(2014)

Prison population trend

Year Prison population total Prison population rate
135 300
195 424
237 499
271 563
256 522
366 732
334 655
219 424
c. 205 c. 392
184 347

Prison population total

Prison population rate

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. 

                                           ST KITTS and NEVIS

YearNumber in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment
Percentage
of total
prison population
Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
1999
2005
2010
2013
29
57
57
98
21.5%
27.3%
20.7%
29.7%
64
115
110
181
20176730.5%120

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.

                                             ST KITTS & NEVIS  

YearNumber of
female
prisoners
Percentage
of total
prison population
Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
2005
2010
2014
5
7
10
2.4%
2.5%
3.0%
10.1
13.5
18.2
201783.6%14.3

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 trend up to 2000

The figures below give an indication of the prison population trend in the years up to 2000. They supplement the more recent figures that are shown at the foot of the Overview page and in the graphs below.

                                     ST KITTS & NEVIS

YearPrison
population
total
Prison population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
1933
1937
1955
1981
1986
1990
1995
1999
41
42
85
117
113
138
121
135
-
-
175
272
276
345
281
300

 

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