Cyprus prisons have highest percentage of women

Cyprus has the highest number of incarcerated women, amounting to 9.5 per cent of the prison population, the 2022 annual statistics published by the Council of Europe revealed on Tuesday.

According to the report, overpopulation in Cyprus’ prisons is the second highest in Europe and third highest in terms of the number of foreign detainees, amounting to 52 per cent.

As of January 31 last year, there were 808 prisoners, and the ratio of prisoners per staff member was 2.0 (with the average amounting to 1.5).

Drug offenders accounted for 20 per cent of prisoners, while manslaughter, including attempted manslaughter, accounted for 11.7 per cent of prisoners. Those convicted for theft accounted for 5.2 per cent.

Nonetheless, Cyprus has the lowest average imprisonment term (1.3 months).

Between January 31, 2021 to January 31, 2022, the average incarceration rate increased by 2.3 per cent in countries with more than one million inhabitants. The prison administrations where the rate of incarceration increased the most were Slovenia (+23 per cent), Finland (+15 per cent), France (+15 per cent). In Cyprus it showed a decrease 1.4 per cent.

Furthermore, the average length of imprisonment in Europe was 8.5 months.