Slovakia

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CountrySlovakia
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice (Ministerstvo spravodlivosti)
Prison administration
Corps of Prison and Court Guard (Zbor väzenskej a justičnej stráže)
Contact address
1 Sagatova St., 81304 Bratislava 1, Slovak Republic
Telephone
+421 2 20 83 11 11
Fax
+421 2 20 83 16 96
Website
Email
kancelariaGR@zvjs.sk
Head of prison administration (and title)
Col. Michal Sedliak
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
9 383
at 1.8.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
173
based on an estimated national population of 5.42 million at beginning of August 2024 (from Eurostat figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
12.8%
(1.8.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
7.8%
(1.8.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.3%
(31.1.2023 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
4.1%
(31.1.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
18
(2021)
Official capacity of prison system
11 518
(1.8.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
81.5%
(1.8.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 6,941 129
2002 7,758 144
2004 9,422 175
2006 8,249 153
2008 8,166 151
2010 10,031 186
2012 10,850 201
2014 10,020 185
2016 9,995 184
2018 10,294 189
2020 10,519 192
2000 6,941 129
2002 7,758 144
2004 9,422 175
2006 8,249 153
2008 8,166 151
2010 10,031 186
2012 10,850 201
2014 10,020 185
2016 9,995 184
2018 10,294 189
2020 10,519 192

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. 

                                                     SLOVAKIA

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

1,902
2,846
1,464
1,346
1,657

27.4%
32.0%
14.6%
13.6%
15.8%

35
53
27
25
30

2024

1,200

12.8%

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.

                                                    SLOVAKIA

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

259
399
564
649
791

3.6%
4.3%
5.6%
6.4%
7.5%

4.8
7.4
10.4
12.0
14.5

2024

733

7.8%

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