St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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CountrySt. Vincent and the Grenadines
Ministry responsible
Ministry of National Security, Air & Sea Port Development
Prison administration
Prison Service of St Vincent and the Grenadines
Contact address
H.M. Prison, White Chapel Road, Kingstown, St Vincent
Telephone
+1 784 457 1937
Fax
+1 784 457 1417
Website
Email
prisons@gov.vc
Head of prison administration (and title)
Brenton Charles
Superintendent
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
392
at 31.7.2023 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
353
based on an estimated national population of 111,000 at end of July 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
24.3%
(20.9.2018)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.8%
(31.7.2023)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
2.8%
(20.9.2018)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.8%
(20.9.2018)
Number of establishments / institutions
2
(2018 - Belle Isle, Her Majesty's Prison Kingstown)
Official capacity of prison system
588
(2018)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
79.8%
(2018)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1999 405 375
2001 302 280
2003 364 337
2005 364 334
2008 410 376
2010 413 379
2012 460 422
2014 412 378
2016 460 418
2018 469 426
2020 410 369
1999 405 375
2001 302 280
2003 364 337
2005 364 334
2008 410 376
2010 413 379
2012 460 422
2014 412 378
2016 460 418
2018 469 426
2020 410 369

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 VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2006
2011
2014

51
80
126
96

16.9%
21.8%
29.4%
23.3%

47
73
116
88

2018

114

24.3%

104

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 VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2006
2010
2014
2020

8
10
9
6
14

2.6%
2.6%
2.2%
1.5%
3.4%

7.4
9.2
8.3
5.5
12.6

2023

11

2.8%

9.9

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