Council of Europe: Georgia ranked among the countries with highest incarceration rate in Europe

The Council of Europe’s report reflects the 2015 data, according to which Georgia is ranked among the countries with highest incarceration rate. As it is pointed out in the report, there are the total of 10,242 prisoners in Georgia, including 54 juveniles, which means that there are 274 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants. This figure is considerably higher than the average rate in the Council of Europe member-states (115 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants). Other countries with higher incarceration rate are: Russia-439,2 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants; Lithuania-224,4; Turkey-220,2 and Moldova – 219,9. In 2015, the rate of prison population in Georgia increased by 18% as compared with 2005. Those data were fluctuating over the years and reached their peak in 2011 – 24,186 prisoners.

Reasons for conviction. In 2015, Georgia was ranked the 2^nd after Italy as to the number of convicts serving terms for narcotic drug offences – 30% of the total number of prisoners (nearly every 3^rd prisoner). Theft is the 2^nd most common offence in Georgia (28,7% of convicts are serving term for theft). By these data Georgia is ranked the 3^rd after Bulgaria and Austria. Robbery is the 3^rd most common offence in Georgia-19% of prison inmates were sentenced for this particular offence. As far as murder and murder attempt are concerned, 13,1% (every 7^th prisoner) of convicts are serving the term of imprisonment for committing this offence.

According to the Council of Europe report, no escapes from prison were reported in Georgia in 2015. As far as the budget is concerned, Georgia spends on average EUR6 per prison inmate daily. It’s the lowest expense rate among the survey participant countries. Sweden and San Marino have the highest average daily expense per prison inmate, amounting to EUR354 and EUR480, respectively.