The Penitentiary System in 2012: Statistics

As of 01.01.2013, 147,112 people were being held in the 182 places of detention of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine (as of 01.01.2012 – 154,029 people). Over the year, the number of people in places of detention decreased by 6,917 (- 4.49%)

In 2012, the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine managed to halt the two-year trend of an increasing prison population. According to data from the department, as of 01.01.2013, 147,112 people were being held in the 182 places of detention of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine (hereinafter – SPSU) (here and hereafter, the figures in parentheses refer to the status as of 01.01.2012 – 154,029 people); thus, over the year, the number of people in places of detention decreased by 6,917 (- 4.49%).

The reduction in the number of prisoners was achieved almost exclusively (by 98%) due to a significant decrease in the number of occupants in pre-trial detention centers. The number of convicts decreased over the year from 115,068 to 114,994, which is a decrease of 74 people, or – 0.06%. They are held in 141 penal institutions, including

in 9 minimum-security institutions with general conditions for men, 6,679 people (6,108 people);

in 35 medium-security institutions for first-time offenders, 36,861 people (36,524 people);

in 41 medium-security institutions for repeat offenders, 42,809 people (44,735 people);

in 9 maximum-security institutions, 4,352 people (4,335 people);

in 4 minimum-security institutions with lenient conditions for men, 981 people (963 people).

In contrast, the number of occupants in the 32 operational pre-trial detention centers in 2012 decreased by 6,778 (- 18%) – from 37,632 to 30,854 people; of these, 2,483 people are at the pre-trial investigation stage (4,156 people), and 14,212 people are at the trial stage (before the verdict is handed down) (16,871 people).

It is evident that a significant number of occupants in pre-trial detention centers are on the dockets of the courts and are awaiting their decisions on appeals.

The number of life-sentenced prisoners increased over the year by 53 people (in 2011 by 61 people, in 2010 by 90 people, in 2009 by 68 people) and amounted to 1,810 people (1,757 people). Those sentenced to terms of over 10 years account for 13,200 people (12,600 people), and 921 people (987 people) are serving sentences in the form of arrest.

In 13 colonies for women, there are 6,053 people (a year ago, 6,108 women were held in custody). In 8 educational colonies for minors, 1,264 people are serving sentences (1,329 people).

The dynamics of the number of people in the department's institutions over the last nine years are shown in the table

According to the SPSU, the criminal breakdown of those sentenced to imprisonment is as follows:

16,700 people (17,100 people) are serving sentences for intentional homicide, including
           8,100 people (8,600 people) who committed murder under aggravating circumstances;
9,900 people (9,800 people) – for intentional grievous bodily harm;
28,900 people (29,500 people) – for robbery, larceny, and extortion;
2,400 people (2,300 people) – for rape;
28 people (24 people) – for hostage-taking;
21,200 people (21,900 people) – for crimes in the sphere of trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues or precursors, and other crimes against public health.

There are 153,182 (168,024, or -8.8% per year) people registered with the 697 units of the criminal-executive inspection who were sentenced to criminal penalties not involving imprisonment, as well as administrative penalties.

The activities of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine are provided for by 48,500 employees (a year ago – 46,100) with a staff capacity of 54,100 positions (52,300 positions).