Solomon Islands

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CountrySolomon Islands
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Home Affairs
Prison administration
Correctional Service of Solomon Islands
Contact address
P.O.Box G36, Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
Telephone
(+677) 28313 / 28314 / 23557
Website
Email
Tpada@cssi.gov.sb
Head of prison administration (and title)
Gabriel Manelusi
Commissioner
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
Circa
500
at 2019 (national prison administration, via Asian & Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
Circa
79
based on an estimated national population of 635,000 at mid-2019 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
46.8%
(2018)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.7%
(mid-2017)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
5.9%
(September 2014 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.0%
(mid-2017)
Number of establishments / institutions
6
(2022 - central correctional centre in Honiara; others at Auki, Gizo, Kirakira, Lata and Tetere)
Official capacity of prison system
614
(mid-2017)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
77.7%
(mid-2017)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
1999 134 33
2002 120 28
2004 275 60
2006 283 59
2008 173 34
2010 268 51
2012 291 53
2014 282 49
2016 435 73
2018 479 77
1999 134 33
2002 120 28
2004 275 60
2006 283 59
2008 173 34
2010 268 51
2012 291 53
2014 282 49
2016 435 73
2018 479 77

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. 

                                               SOLOMON ISLANDS

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2005
2010
2015

42
101
96
166

31.3%
34.5%
35.8%
61.3%

11
22
18
28

2018

224

46.8%

36

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. 

                                             SOLOMON ISLANDS

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

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

1999
2005
2010
2015

1
2
0
4

0.7%
0.7%
0%
1.5%

0.2
0.4
0
0.7

2017

8

1.7%

1.3

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