While The Bahamas continued to suffer from a high rate of crime in 2010, only a small number of criminals were convicted for serious offences, newly released prison statistics show.
Only 32 percent of the 2,374 people admitted to prison last year were sentenced inmates.
And the vast majority of those inmates who were sentenced were convicted of petty crimes.
Of the 749 people who were sentenced in 2010, 72 percent of them were sentenced to serve a year or less in prison, according to Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) 2010 Report, which was tabled in the House of Assembly on Wednesday by National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest.
Just 12 percent or 93 inmates were sentenced to more than two years.
Only 13 people (less than two percent of the people admitted to prison last year) were sentenced to 10 years or more in prison.
In 2010, only two people were sentenced for murder. Only four were sentenced for rape.
The country continues to experience a high rate of murder. Ninety-four were recorded last year and already 57 have been recorded this year.
Last year, 104 people were remanded for murder.
In 2010, 30 people were sentenced for crimes against the person and 433 were remanded.
The report shows that six people were sentenced for armed robbery; one was sentenced for attempted murder; five were sentenced for manslaughter; six were sentenced for other sexual offenses; three were sentenced for robbery; and another three were sentenced for unlawful sexual intercourse.
Three hundred and thirty-three people were sentenced for crimes against the property.
The majority of them were sentenced for stealing.
As it relates to other major offences, 168 people were sentenced for drug crimes and 123 people were sentenced for possession of ammunition and/or possession of unlicensed firearms.
For those crimes, 693 people were placed on remand.
In 2010, inmates on remand continued to represent the vast majority of the prison population.
Statistics show that 1,625 of the 2,374 people admitted to Her Majesty’s Prison in 2010 were remanded.
The number of people admitted in 2010 represents a three percent decrease over 2009.
The report shows that of the 1,633 people released from prison in 2010, 1,241 were released on bail or because their charges were dropped; 249 were released after serving their time; 58 were deported; and 85 paid their fines.
Nearly 90 percent of all inmates admitted to prison last year are Bahamian citizens.
CNN
