KINGSTON, Jamaica—Jamaica’s adult prison population grew to 3,563 in 2025 after 575 new inmates were sentenced and admitted.

Of the newly-sentenced, 271 were placed at the maximum St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, according to the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), in its 2025 edition of the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica.

“Sentencing patterns showed a concentration among younger adults, with the majority of admissions falling within the 18–30 year age group,” said PIOJ which noted that the main offences were murder, robbery with aggravation, and firearms-related crimes.

Of those admitted, 52.7 per cent were classified as unskilled.

Correctional institutions’ inmate populations showed minimal change during the period under review. A totalof 3,563 inmates were recorded across adult institutions, compared with 3,511 in 2024.

The maximum Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in Kingston maintained the largest population, housing 1,593 inmates, although this was lower than the 1,727 recorded in 2024.

The St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre housed 850 inmates last year, down from 883 in 2024. In contrast, the Horizon Adult Remand Centre in Kingston recorded an increase to 740 inmates from 632 in the previous year.

PIOJ said smaller facilities also showed changes: Tamarind Farm Adult Correctional Centre in St Catherine housed 162 inmates, up from 70 in 2024; while Richmond Farm Adult Correctional Centre recorded 77 inmates, compared with 78 recorded in the previous year.

Meanwhile, juvenile correctional centres held 178 juveniles (individuals under the age of 18 years) relative to 177 recorded in 2024. The South Camp Juvenile Correctional and Remand Centre housed the largest number of juveniles (73) and remained the only facility for females.