Puerto Rico (USA)

Donate to WPB
CountryPuerto Rico (USA)
Ministry responsible
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Prison administration
Department of Correction and Rehabilitation
Contact address
PO Box 71308, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936
Telephone
+1 787 273 6464
Fax
+1 787 792 7677
Website
http://www.ac.gobierno.pr
Email
prensa@dcr.pr.gov
Head of prison administration (and title)
Erik Y. Rolon Suarez
Secretario
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
5 798
at 31.12.2022 (U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
177
based on an estimated national population of 3.28 million at end of December 2022 (from U.S. Census Bureau figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
13.1%
(2018)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
3.7%
(2018)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.9%
(2018 - juveniles)
Number of establishments / institutions
34
(2017)
Official capacity of prison system
10 376
(31.12.2022)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
55.9%
(31.12.2022)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 14,691 384
2002 14,705 380
2004 14,380 369
2006 13,788 351
2008 12,130 306
2010 10,878 294
2012 12,244 339
2014 12,327 352
2016 10,500 308
2018 9,100 285
2000 14,691 384
2002 14,705 380
2004 14,380 369
2006 13,788 351
2008 12,130 306
2010 10,878 294
2012 12,244 339
2014 12,327 352
2016 10,500 308
2018 9,100 285

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. 

                                            PUERTO RICO

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2004/05
2010
2015

2,537
1,628
1,851

17.0%
14.9%
15.3%

65
44
53

2018

1,190

13.1%

37

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. 

                                              PUERTO RICO (USA)

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

2004/05
2010
2015

513
328
420

3.4%
3.0%
3.5%

13.2
8.9
12.1

2018

335

3.7%

10.5

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