Telangana’s prison occupancy rate stands at 84.6% as of December 31, 2023, significantly lower than the national average of 112.7%, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. This translates to 8,098 inmates housed in the state’s prisons against a capacity of 9,565.
The report highlights a decrease in Telangana’s occupancy rate compared to 2022, when it was 91.7%. This decline is attributed to increased releases, including those through parole, furlough, and court orders.
A significant portion of the prison population consists of under-trial prisoners (UTPs), accounting for 73.8% (6,001) of the total inmates. Convicted prisoners number 2,097, representing 25.9%.
Regarding the composition of inmates, Scheduled Castes constitute the largest group at 23.6%, followed by Other Backward Classes at 21.8%. Scheduled Tribes represent 11.6% of the prison population, while General Category inmates account for 34.8%.
The data reveals that a majority of prisoners are in the age group of 25-34 (33.6%), followed by those aged 35-50 (28.8%). Individuals aged 18-25 comprise 18.6% of the inmate population.
Telangana prisons have a relatively low rate of overcrowding compared to many other states. The state also reports a lower percentage of women prisoners (5.3%) compared to the national average of 8.8%.
The NCRB data also indicates that the number of foreign prisoners in Telangana is minimal, with only 21 inmates identified as foreign nationals.
The report emphasizes the ongoing efforts to reduce prison overcrowding and improve prison conditions in Telangana through various release mechanisms and initiatives. The lower occupancy rate positions Telangana favorably compared to states grappling with severe overcrowding issues.
