Penal institutions

Prison establishments are all institutions whose purpose is the execution of custodial sentences and measures as well as forms of detention such as police detention, pre-trial detention as well as compulsory measures under the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals (FNA - SR 142.20). In Switzerland, responsibility for these institutions lies with the cantons.

Key figures on penal institutions

	2023
Number of penal institutions	89
Number of detention places	7 196
Detention places in the smallest prison	5
Detention places in the largest prison	399
Total prison population	6 445
Occupancy rate (in %)	89.6
FTE posts on reference day, shown as work-time percentage1)	4 669
Of which administration	462
Of which security	2 863
Of which social work / education	761
Of which healthcare	156
External employees	307

Data updated: 22.03.2023
1) Personnel according to organisational chart (full-time equivalents – a work-time percentage of 50% equals 0.5 FTE) Source: FSO - Imprisonment statistics (FHE)

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Further information

Tables

All tables on the topic Persons in placement and detainee

Statistical sources and concepts

Surveys