To read the full report click here.
Executive Summary
This report provides a ‘snapshot’ of the Vanuatu offender population as at 11 September 2016. Or in other words, it:
– provides a profile of the people held in Vanuatu’s four Correctional Centers at that date (“Detainees”) and
– a profile of the people serving community-based sentences at that time.
Key findings of 2016 census include:
- The detainee population on 11 September 2016 was 180 persons, including two female
- The community based offenders population on 11 September 2016 was 169 persons including five females
- Vanuatu’s rate of Imprisonment is the third lowest in the Pacific
- The oldest detainee in the census is 74 years old and the youngest is 18. The average age is 35.8, which is higher than the last three censuses
- The oldest offender serving in the community is 74 years old and the youngest is 15 years old. The average age is 34.75 which is slightly lower than the average age of detainees
- While Tanna and Malekula were the most common home island of offenders, most offenders were resident in either Efate of Santo at the time of offending
- The average detainee sentence length was 6.45 years. The average offender sentence length was 2.81 (parole and supervision)
- Years 6 was the most common level of education for both detainees and community based offenders
- 31% of detainees were actively engaged in formal employment
- 81% of detainees are first time offenders and 83% of offenders in the community are first timers
- 18% of detainees on 11 September 2016 were on remand (awaiting trial, sentencing or awaiting to appear for plea)
- 21 – 25 years old continues to be the main age group for offenders serving in the community and detainees
- Most of the offenders serving in the community are parolees (63% in 2016 census)
- Morality remains the main offence committed in Vanuatu, 54% of detainees and 51% of offenders in the community commit the offence against Morality
