Prison Statistics India 2023 - NCRB Data

Prison Statistics India 2023 – NCRB Data

Table of Contents

Prison Statistics India 2023 as per NCRB Data (National Crime Records Bureau) – Indian Prison Statistics

Prison Statistics India 2023 | Indian Prison Statistics – NCRB’s Report Offers critical insights into the state of Indian Prisons revealing trends in Inmate population, capacity and Justice delivery across the nation.

1. The total number of prisons at national level has increased from 1,330 in 2022 to 1,332 in 2023 having increased by 0.2%.

2. The 1,332 prisons in the country consist of 549 Sub Jails, 436 District Jails, 152 Central Jails, 101 Open Jails, 47 Special Jails, 35 Women Jails, 10 Borstal Schools and 2 Other than the above Jails.

3. The highest number of jails was reported in Rajasthan (155) followed by Tamil Nadu (142), Madhya Pradesh (132), Andhra Pradesh (106), Odisha (92) and Uttar Pradesh (77). These Six (6) States together cover 52.9% of total jails in the country as on 31st December, 2023.

4. Delhi has the highest number of Central jails totaling to 14 in the country. States/UTs like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, A & N Islands, DNH & Daman Diu, Ladakh and Lakshadweep have no central jail as on 31st December, 2023.

5. Uttar Pradesh has reported the highest number of District jails (64).

6. Only 16 States/UTs were having Women Jails (35 Women Jails) with a total capacity of 7,086 in India. These States/UTs (Number of Jails) (Capacity) are ix – Rajasthan (7) (998), Tamil Nadu (5) (2018), Kerala (3) (211), Andhra Pradesh (2) (280), Bihar (2) (202), Gujarat (2) (410), Punjab (2) (595), Telangana (2) (300), Uttar Pradesh (2) (540), Delhi (2) (680), Karnataka (1) (100), Maharashtra (1) (262), West Bengal (1) (314) , Mizoram (1) (96), Odisha (1) (55) and Tripura (1) (25). the rest of 20 States/UTs have no separate Women Jail as on 31st December, 2023.

7. The actual capacity of prisons has increased from 4,36,266 in 2022 to 4,39,119 in 2023 (as on 31st December of each year), having increased by 0.7%. Number of prisoners lodged in various jails has decreased from 5,73,220 in 2022 to 5,30,333 in 2023 (as on 31st December of each year), having decreased by 7.5% during the period.

8. Out of the total capacity 4,39,119 in 1,332 prisons in 2023, the Central Jails of the country were having the highest capacity (1,98,150) followed by the District Jails (1,72,074) and the Sub Jails (43,800).

9. Out of the 5,30,333 prisoners, 5,08,715 were male prisoners, 21,510 were female prisoners and 108 were transgender.

10. The occupancy rate has decreased from 131.4% in 2022 to 120.8% in 2023 (as on 31st December of each year).

11. The highest occupancy rate was in District Jails (136.6%) followed by Central Jails (120.7%) and Special Jails (92.3%). The occupancy rate in Women Jails was 60.6% as on 31st December, 2023.

12. Uttar Pradesh has reported the highest number of prisoners (98,849) in its jails contributing 18.6% followed by Bihar (53,076), Madhya Pradesh (45,543), Maharashtra (40,805), Punjab (31,529) and Haryana (25,833) as on 31st December, 2023. These States together are contributing around 55.7% of total prisoners in the country.

13. Delhi has reported the highest occupancy rate (200.2%) followed by Meghalaya (188.7%), Uttarakhand (183.1%), Maharashtra (155.3%), Madhya Pradesh (152.4%) and Uttar Pradesh (150.1%) as on 31st December, 2023.

14. The capacity in 35 Women Jails was 7,086 with the actual number of prisoners in these Women Jails was 4,293 (Occupancy Rate: 60.6%) which includes (15) Transgender inmates also as on 31st December, 2023. The capacity of Women Inmates in other types of Jail (i.e. except Women Jails) was 23,593 with the actual number of women inmates in these jails was 17,232 (Occupancy Rate: 73.0%) as on 31st December, 2023.

15. Uttarakhand has reported the highest female occupancy rate (169.6%) followed by Maharashtra (118.5%) and Uttar Pradesh (116.5%).

NCRB data on prison statistics in india

Let’s understand Prisons challenges in India based on the official response by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to the Parliamentary question on Prison Funding and Overcrowding.