US `world`s biggest jailer` :: Charter'97 :: News

The United States again leads the world in putting criminals in jail, ahead of Russia and Belarus, according to figures released on Monday by British academics.

The international centre for prison studies at King`s College, London, said the US held 714 prisoners a 100 000 people and had topped the list since 2000.

Anton Shelupanov, research associate at the international centre for prison studies, said: "The US has managed in 200 years to reach 2 million prisoners.

"It`s a very concerning rate of growth."

He said the US total represented 22% of the 9 million prisoners reported held throughout the world.

Shelupanov said Russia had 786 900 inmates, or 550 a 100 000, the highest rate in Europe.

High-ranking Asian countries

Luxembourg ranked second in Europe with 144 a 100 000, one point ahead of England and Wales.

Notably, high rates of prisoners in European countries included Belarus, with 532 inmates a 100 000 people and Ukraine with 416 a 100 000.

High-ranking Asian countries included Turkmenistan, at about 489 a 100 000 people according to the United Nations in 2000, and Maldive Islands, who jailed 414 a 100 000 people.

South Africa was the leading African jailing country with 186 739 of its 44 million people in prison - or 413 a 100 000.

Suriname had the top rate in South America at 437 a 100 000 people.

The international centre for prison studies compiled data from a variety of sources, mostly from prison administrations from each nation. The centre said data for the survey was mainly from mid-2002 or later.