Record Decrease in the Number of Prisoners in Ukraine

According to data posted on the website of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine, as of 01.01.2014, 127,830 persons were held in 182 places of detention of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine (hereinafter – SPSU) (here and hereinafter in brackets, data as of 01.01.2013 – 147,112 persons); that is, the number of persons in places of detention decreased by 19,282 persons over the year, or by 13.11%. The figure for the number of prisoners per 100,000 population for Ukraine is 281.

The dynamics of the number of persons in the department's institutions over the last ten years are presented in the following table:

The number of residents in 2013 in 26 active pre-trial detention centres and 6 penal institutions with SIZO functions decreased by 8,708 persons, or by 28.2% – from 30,854 persons to 22,146 persons. Of these, 1,863 persons are at the pre-trial investigation stage (2,483 persons a year ago, 4,156 persons two years ago), and 8,631 persons are at the judicial investigation stage (before the verdict is handed down) (14,212 persons a year ago, 16,871 persons two years ago).

The number of convicts in 142 criminal-executive institutions decreased over the year from 114,994 persons to 104,791 persons, that is, by 10,203 persons, or by 8.87%.

There are certain peculiarities in the rates of decline in the number of incarcerated persons during 2013.

The average monthly rate of decline in the total number of prisoners throughout the year is quite stable and stands at 1,607 persons, and in the last six months – 1,476 prisoners per month. However, the situation differs significantly for pre-trial detention centres and penal colonies separately. Thus, the number of pre-trial detention centre residents decreased by 1,100–1,200 persons per month in the first half of 2013, but in the last three months, the pace slowed to 170 persons per month.

The rates of decrease in the number of convicted persons in penal colonies changed in the opposite direction – in the first half of the year, the number of convicted persons decreased on average by 683 persons monthly. In the second half of the year, the pace increased by one and a half times, and the number of convicts in the colonies decreased by 1,015 persons each month.

As a result, as of 1 January 2014, convicts were held:

 in 9 institutions of minimum security level with general conditions for holding men – 4,351 persons (6,679 persons);

in 35 institutions of medium security level for first-time offenders – 33,369 persons (as of 01.01.2013 – 36,861 persons);

in 41 institutions of medium security level for repeat offenders – 38,953 persons (42,809 persons);

 in 9 institutions of maximum security level – 5,720 persons (4,352 persons);

in 4 institutions of minimum security level with lenient conditions for holding men – 901 person (981 persons).

 According to the SPSU, the criminogenic composition of those sentenced to imprisonment is as follows:
16.3 thousand persons (16.7 thousand persons) – are serving sentences for intentional homicide, including 7.9 thousand persons (8.1 thousand persons) who committed murder under aggravating circumstances;
9.3 thousand persons (9.9 thousand persons) – for causing intentional grievous bodily harm;
25.7 thousand persons (28.9 thousand persons) – for robbery, theft, and extortion;
2.3 thousand persons (2.4 thousand persons) – for rape;
28 persons (28 persons) – for hostage-taking;
19 thousand persons (21.2 thousand persons) – for crimes in the sphere of illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues or precursors, and other crimes against public health.

In 14 colonies for women, there are 5,572 persons (a year ago, 6,053 women were held in 15 colonies). In seven educational colonies for minors, 893 persons are serving sentences (a year ago, 1,264 persons in six colonies).

The number of life-sentenced persons increased by 68 persons over the year (by 53 persons in 2012) and amounted to 1,878 persons (1,810 persons). Those sentenced to a term of over 10 years comprise 12 thousand persons (13.2 thousand persons); 656 persons are serving sentences in the form of arrest (921 persons).

There are 129,461 persons registered with 697 subdivisions of the criminal-executive inspectorate (152,321 persons a year ago; that is, the decrease over the year is 22,859 persons, or 15.0%; two years ago, 168,024 persons were registered, and there was a decrease over the year of 8.8%) who have been convicted of criminal offences not involving deprivation of liberty, and administrative penalties.