Latvia

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CountryLatvia
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Tieslietu Ministrija)
Prison administration
Latvian Prison Administration (Ieslodzījuma Vietu Pārvalde)
Contact address
Stabu iela 89, LV-1009 Riga
Telephone
+371 7 6729 0612
Fax
+371 7 6727 8697
Website
http://www.ievp.gov.lv
Email
pasts@ievp.gov.lv
Head of prison administration (and title)
Ilona Spure
Director
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
3 229
at 1.1.2023 (via Council of Europe)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
172
based on an estimated national population of 1.88 million at beginning of January 2023 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
22.7%
(31.12.2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
7.7%
(31.12.2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.7%
(31.12.2022 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.4%
(31.12.2022)
Number of establishments / institutions
9
(2021)
Official capacity of prison system
4 822
(1.1.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
67.0%
(1.1.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 8,815 370
2002 8,531 368
2004 8,231 361
2006 6,965 313
2008 6,548 299
2010 7,055 333
2012 6,561 321
2014 5,139 252
2016 4,409 224
2018 3,765 195
2020 3,414 179
2000 8,815 370
2002 8,531 368
2004 8,231 361
2006 6,965 313
2008 6,548 299
2010 7,055 333
2012 6,561 321
2014 5,139 252
2016 4,409 224
2018 3,765 195
2020 3,414 179

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. 

                                                     LATVIA

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
2015
2020

3,641
2,662
2,000
1,469
949

41.3%
34.8%
28.3%
31.0%
27.8%

153
115
89
74
50

2022

734

22.7%

39

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.

                                                      LATVIA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

405
416
402
343
294

4.6%
5.4%
5.7%
7.2%
8.6%

17.0
18.5
19.0
17.3
15.4

2022

248

7.7%

13.2

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