Bosnia and Herzegovina: Federation

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CountryBosnia and Herzegovina: Federation
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice
Prison administration
Division for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions
Contact address
Valtera Perica 15, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Telephone
+387 33 471 825 (or 213 151)
Fax
+387 33 471 825 (or 213 151)
Website
Head of prison administration (and title)
Hidajet Trako
Assistant Minister of Justice
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
1 688
at 1.1.2024 (Council of Europe)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
79
based on an estimated national population of 2.15 million at beginning of January 2024 (from Federation Office of Statistics figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
21.3%
(1.1.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.2%
(31.12.2019)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.5%
(31.12.2019 - under 18 at date of sentence)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.6%
(31.12.2019)
Number of establishments / institutions
7
(2019 - Zenica prison and 6 semi-open prisons)
Official capacity of prison system
2 044
(1.1.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
82.6%
(1.1.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 1,041 45
2002 1,298 56
2004 1,353 59
2006 1,587 69
2008 1,750 78
2010 1,714 77
2012 1,901 86
2014 1,722 78
2000 1,041 45
2002 1,298 56
2004 1,353 59
2006 1,587 69
2008 1,750 78
2010 1,714 77
2012 1,901 86
2014 1,722 78

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. 

                                     BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: FEDERATION

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2014

337
245
332
216

31.6%
18.2%
19.4%
12.5%

15
11
14
9

2024

360

21.3%

17

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.

                                BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: FEDERATION

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2001
2005
2010
2012

33
40
46
49

2.4%
2.8%
2.6%
2.9%

1.4
1.7
2.0
2.1

2019

58

3.2%

2.6

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