St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Total prison population:
404
Country
St. 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 & the Grenadines

Telephone
Head of prison administration
Dwayne Bailey, Superintendent

Prison population data

Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) 404
at 31.7.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) 361
based on an estimated national population of 112,000 at end of July 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) 16.1%
(31.7.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) 2.0%
(31.7.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) 2.8%
(20.9.2018)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) 1.0%
(2023)
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
405 375
302 280
364 337
364 334
410 376
413 379
460 422
412 378
460 418
469 426
410 369

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 VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

YearNumber 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
20246516.1%58

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

YearNumber 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
202482.0%7.1

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 VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

YearPrison
population
total
Prison population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)
1920
1930
1947
1950
1955
1960
1965
1981
1992
1995
1999
36
23
89
117
117
81
66
153
321
358
405
-
-
-
175
158
100
77
151
297
331
375

 

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