Poland

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CountryPoland
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Ministerstwo Sprawiedliwosci)
Prison administration
Central Board of Prison Service (Centralny Zarząd Służby Więziennej)
Contact address
Ul. Rakowiecka 37A, PL-02-521 WARSAW, Poland
Telephone
+48 22 640 8651
Fax
+48 22 848 8081
Website
http://www.sw.gov.pl
Email
bdg@sw.gov.pl
Head of prison administration (and title)
(Gen.) Jacek Kitlinski
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
71 771
at 31.7.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
196
based on an estimated national population of 36.54 million at end of July 2024 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
11.4%
(31.7.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.3%
(31.7.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.3%
(31.1.2023 - minors)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.5%
(31.7.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions
215
(2011 - 70 institutions for pre-trial detainees and 87 prisons; also 14 hospitals and 44 other units associated with the 157 main institutions)
Official capacity of prison system
83 727
(31.7.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
85.6%
(31.7.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 70,544 184
2002 80,467 211
2004 80,368 211
2006 88,647 232
2008 83,152 218
2010 80,728 212
2012 84,156 221
2014 77,371 204
2016 71,528 188
2018 72,204 190
2020 67,894 179
2000 70,544 184
2002 80,467 211
2004 80,368 211
2006 88,647 232
2008 83,152 218
2010 80,728 212
2012 84,156 221
2014 77,371 204
2016 71,528 188
2018 72,204 190
2020 67,894 179

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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. 

                                                    POLAND

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

22,032
13,416
8,389
4,162
8,692

31.2%
16.2%
10.4%
5.9%
12.8%

58
35
22
11
23

2024

8,166

11.4%

22

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.

                                                      POLAND

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

1,729
2,359
2,597
2,379
3,056

2.5%
2.8%
3.2%
3.4%
4.5%

4.5
6.2
6.8
6.3
8.1

2024

3,798

5.3%

10.4

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