Jamaica's Adult Prison Population Grew by 575 in 2025

Jamaica's adult prison population saw a significant rise in 2025, with 575 new inmates admitted, bringing the total to 3,563. The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), in its 2025 Economic and Social Survey Jamaica, detailed that sentencing patterns concentrated on younger adults, predominantly within the 18–30 age group. The main offenses leading to these admissions were murder, robbery with aggravation, and firearms-related crimes.

Further analysis of the newly-sentenced revealed that 52.7 percent were classified as unskilled. Despite the overall increase in the prison population, the report noted minimal changes in the inmate numbers across correctional institutions during the review period. The maximum security St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre admitted 271 new inmates, contributing to the overall growth.

Specific facility populations showed varied trends. The Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in Kingston, which remains the largest facility, housed 1,593 inmates, a decrease from 1,727 in 2024. Similarly, the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre saw a slight reduction, holding 850 inmates compared to 883 the previous year. In contrast, the Horizon Adult Remand Centre in Kingston experienced an increase, with its population rising to 740 from 632 in 2024.

Smaller facilities also reported shifts. Tamarind Farm Adult Correctional Centre in St Catherine housed 162 inmates, up from 70 in 2024, while Richmond Farm Adult Correctional Centre recorded 77 inmates, a slight decrease from 78. Meanwhile, juvenile correctional centres held 178 juveniles, a marginal increase from 177 in 2024. The South Camp Juvenile Correctional and Remand Centre, the only facility for females, housed the largest number of juveniles at 73.

“

Sentencing patterns showed a concentration among younger adults, with the majority of admissions falling within the 18–30 year age group