Seventeen members of the security services, inclusive of police personnel, soldiers and security guards were part of the nation’s prison population of 3,565 that was under the care of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) as at December 31, 2021.

The total prison population at the end of last year was 41 more than at the same time in 2020.

The Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre and the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre both operated above capacity. The Tower Street facility was operated at double its capacity (200.1 per cent) while the St Catherine prison was 6.7 per cent above capacity.

The figures are contained in the 2021 edition of the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ), a publication of the Planning Institute of Jamaica.

The survey found that males accounted for 97.2 per cent of the total adult custodial population and that there was a 10.9 per cent increase in the number of persons admitted to correctional facilities to 903 from 814.

The survey also found that the top three reasons for admission continued to be illegal possession of firearm/ammunition (23.5 per cent); larceny/break-in larceny/larceny of motor vehicle (12.1 per cent); and sexual offences (10.6 per cent).

Of note is that almost half (48.6 per cent) of those admitted were unskilled, 27.2 per cent were self-employed, 15.3 per cent were skilled workers, 2.7 per cent were professionals, 1.6 per cent were security sector professionals and 0.2 per cent were students. Five foreign nationals were admitted during the year, a 64.3 per cent reduction compared with 2020.

As at December 31, there were 13 foreign nationals in the custody of the DCS. Of the total admissions, 59.1 per cent were new, 28 per cent were readmissions and 12.8 per cent had been previously convicted but not given custodial sentences.

“Males accounted for 100.0 per cent of readmissions, 99.1 per cent of the previously convicted and 94.6 per cent of new admissions. An analysis of the readmissions data showed that 53.8 per cent were first-time reoffenders, 15.4 per cent had reoffended twice, 8.3 per cent had reoffended three times, 19.4 per cent had reoffended at least four times, and for 3.1 per cent the status was unknown,” said the ESSJ.

It said the recidivism rate remained at 41.0 per cent while the readmission rate increased by 1.0 percentage point to 28.0 per cent. Approximately 41.0 per cent of those admitted were serving sentences of up to 12 months.

At year end, there were 1,394 adults awaiting sentencing, including 539 appellants, 173 persons awaiting trial, 111 persons who were deemed unfit to plead, 570 persons on remand, and one retrial.