Murder continues to be one of the leading cause of incarceration in SVG

Murder, wounding and burglary continue to constitute the largest percentage of crimes for which people in St Vincent and the Grenadines are being incarcerated.

As of July 31, 2024, a total of 404 inmates are being housed at His Majesty’s Prisons, 396 of whom are male and eight are female. These statistics reveal a slight increase from exactly one year ago, when 391 males and 11 females constituted the prison population. Superintendent of Prisons, Dwayne Bailey, who presented this year’s statistics at the closing of the criminal assizes on July 31, 2024, said that 218 males have been sentenced to prison by the Supreme Court; 115 by the Magistrate’s Court; 21 are awaiting trial; and 42 are on remand.

Five females have been sentenced by the Supreme Court; one by the Magistrate’s Court; none is awaiting trial; and two females are currently on remand. Last year, Bailey reported that the number of persons being convicted for murder is increasing as a total of 97 men, and three women were being housed at the prisons for the offence this time last year.

However, this year that total number had decreased from 100 to 93, with 92 males and one female being incarcerated for murder. These numbers show that 23 per cent of the prison population is in prison for murder. Of the 92 males in prison on charges of murder, 64 were sentenced by the Supreme Court and none by the Magistrate’s Court. There are 15 murder accused awaiting trial, and 13 are on remand.

The prison population has seen a decrease in offences for the possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. In 2023, offences involving the use of unlicensed firearms was the second most committed offence among the male prison population. A total of 32 men were sentenced then for these types of offences by the Magistrate’s Court. However, a total of 25 males were sentenced for possession of illegal firearm and ammunition this year.

The second most committed offence among the male prison population is wounding. A total of 42 males are in prison for this offence. The third and fourth most committed offences respectively among the male prison population are burglary, for which there is a total of 34 men; and robbery for which a total of 30 men are being housed.

The offence of rape is on par with possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition as the fifth most committed criminal offence among the male prison population. Others include unlawful sexual intercourse; possession of unlicensed firearm; manslaughter; attempted murder; and aggravated burglary.

There is currently no male in prison for the offence of wife maintenance; death by dangerous driving; taking conveyance without authority; breach of court order; buggery; spoofing; illegal entry; judgement debtor; corruption; and using threatening language. Two of the eight women in prison have been sentenced for manslaughter, one for murder, two for wounding, and one for possession of controlled drug. One female is currently on remand for attempted murder, and another female for burglary.

There are no females currently in prison for theft or judgement debtor.