Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor)

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CountryTimor-Leste (formerly East Timor)
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Direcção Nacional dos Serviços Prisionais e de Reinserção Social - Timor-Leste Prisons Service (TLPS)
Contact address
Avenido Rua de Caicoli, Dili-Timor Leste
Telephone
+(670) 3310153
Website
Email
dnsprs@mj.gov.tl
Head of prison administration (and title)
Helder Cosme Marçal Belo
Director of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
763
at March 2021 (submission to UN Human Rights Council)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
55
based on an estimated national population of 1.40 million at March 2021 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
23.2%
(April 2017)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.1%
(April 2017)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
5.5%
(April 2017 - under 21)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.8%
(April 2017)
Number of establishments / institutions
3
(2021 - Becora prison, Gleno prison and Suai prison)
Official capacity of prison system
440
(March 2021)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
173.4%
(March 2021)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2003 c 320 c 35
2008 179 17
2011 260 23
2013 429 36
2015 581 47
2017 659 51
2019 715 53
2003 c 320 c 35
2008 179 17
2011 260 23
2013 429 36
2015 581 47
2017 659 51
2019 715 53

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. 

                                                  TIMOR-LESTE

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2003
2009
2015

207
95
144

70.9%
42.6%
24.8%

23
9
12

2017

153

23.2%

12

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. 

                                                   TIMOR-LESTE

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2003
2009
2013

1
4
15

0.3%
1.8%
3.5%

0.1
0.4
1.3

2017

27

4.1%

2.1

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 total
Prison population rate