Bahamas

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CountryBahamas
Ministry responsible
Ministry of National Security
Prison administration
Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (DCS)
Contact address
Her Majesty's Prison, Fox Hill, PO Box N-504, Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas
Telephone
+1 242 324 6404
+1 242 324 6177
Fax
+1 242 324 4941
Website
Email
commissioner'sofficepris@bahamas.gov.bs
Head of prison administration (and title)
Doan Cleare
Acting Prison Commissioner
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
1 617
at December 2020 (via U.S. State Department human rights report)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
409
based on an estimated national population of 395,000 at December 2020 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
Circa
37.0%
(December 2020)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.1%
(December 2017)
Number of establishments / institutions
1
(2014 - Fox Hill, containing maximum security block, remand centre and medium and minimum security units)
Official capacity of prison system
1 000
(December 2020)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
161.7%
(December 2020)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1998 1,401 485
2000 c 1,400 c 470
2002 1,280 412
2004 c 1,400 c 435
2006 c 1,500 c 446
2008 1,400 402
2010 1,322 372
2012 1,600 439
2014 1,396 375
2016 1,746 455
2018 1,778 460
1998 1,401 485
2000 c 1,400 c 470
2002 1,280 412
2004 c 1,400 c 435
2006 c 1,500 c 446
2008 1,400 402
2010 1,322 372
2012 1,600 439
2014 1,396 375
2016 1,746 455
2018 1,778 460

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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. 

                                                  BAHAMAS

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2005
2010
2013

290
645
c. 500
c. 600

22.7%
43.0%
c. 38.4%
c. 42.0%

93
196
c. 139
c. 159

2020

598

37.0%

151

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.

                                                    BAHAMAS

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2002
2011
2014

23
35
44

1.8%
2.7%
3.2%

7.4
9.5
11.4

2017

54

3.1%

13.5

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