Russian pre-trial detention centres have been decongested

At present, 694,500 prisoners are serving sentences in 755 Russian colonies. The number of people held in pre-trial detention centres in Russia has decreased, but those sitting on the bunks are still numerous — nearly a million.

One does not usually swear off prison or poverty in our country — such is the land. But, as they say, there is a trend towards improving the situation — we have started to be imprisoned in fewer numbers. At least such data was presented at the board meeting of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN).

According to the “bookkeeping” of this agency, the number of inmates in pre-trial detention centres (SIZO) has decreased by almost 50,000 people over the past year. Now there are “only” 819,200 citizens “steaming” on the bunks.

At present, 694,500 prisoners are serving sentences in 755 Russian colonies. This is 29,600 fewer than a year earlier. 49,300 people are held in settlement colonies (a decrease of 3,200). In colonies for those sentenced to life imprisonment (and we have 5 of them), there were 1,739 people at the beginning of this year.

In 228 pre-trial detention centres and 165 facilities functioning in SIZO mode at colonies, 118,900 people are held. In 7 prisons, 1,800 people are serving sentences. In 62 educational colonies for minors, 4,000 people are held.

There are also fewer female prisoners — there are now 66,400 of them, and the total number of convicted members of the “weaker sex” is just over 66,000. They account for 863 children (children of prisoners!) living in 13 infant homes attached to prisons.

But people in domestic penitentiary institutions die much more often than in the outside world. Last year, 4,423 people died there.

According to the head of the FSIN, Alexander Reimer, the “contingent” is initially not in robust health. More than 410,000 people suffer from tuberculosis, HIV infection, drug addiction, mental disorders, and oncological diseases, among others.