Statistics Explained

Glossary:Prison

Prison means specialised premises where people are forcefully detained and deprived of their liberty, following a lawful criminal justice process. This is different from detention premises used for other purposes, for instance related to migration or military operations.

Prison statistics should include all facilities that in fact have similar purposes in the offical criminal justice system, such as penal-, correctional- and psychiatric facilities.

The statistical unit prison can consist of one or more buildings, grounds, etc. with common administration and services.

This explanation is for statistical purposes and may differ from national regulations and definitions.

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