Filenews 16 June 2025 - by Michalis Hatzivasilis
The population geography of Cypriot prisons has changed drastically in recent years, since there are now three main characteristics.
Most are detained for drug-related cases or are caused by drugs (theft-burglary), sexual offences, mainly against minors and immigration.
In the past, fewer people ended up in prison for sexual offences and more for fraud and forgery, while drug crimes were one of the main causes of people ending up in the cell over time.
Rape and attempted murder used to be one of the most common crimes people were sent to prison, as were bomb explosions and destruction of property with explosives or arson.
Now crime has changed and mainly due to the internet there are electronic frauds but also sexual offenses through computers (child pornography, sexual blackmail, etc.).
"F" attempts an X-ray of the current Central Prison, with the profile of the convicts differentiated with a focus on drugs. More than 1/3 of the prisoners have been convicted either of crimes related to drug trafficking, or of other crimes with drugs as the main cause. That is, some proceed to criminal actions in order either to secure their dose (burglaries, thefts or robberies), or to settle accounts in relation to the drug trade.
A large number of persons, disproportionate to the prison population, have been convicted of sexual crimes, with the majority involving young victims. Also, 1/8 of the prison is full of people in relation to immigration. The majority of convicts at the moment concern persons who have been convicted or are awaiting trial for property offences, i.e. for burglary and theft or robbery. There are a large number of persons who are on trial for such offences and could, as reported to us by people in the Prison Directorate, be detained or confined in other ways without burdening the prison.
According to the data, last Wednesday there were 803 prisoners and 331 people under trial in prisons, with the total population reaching 1134 people. The number of people imprisoned changes every day, since there are either new convictions or some are released.
As regards the offences for which these persons are locked up in prisons, the following data emerge:
-216 have been convicted of drugs, while another 52 are on trial. For sexual offences against minors, 88 are convicted and 16 are under trial, while for the same crimes against adults, 32 persons are currently being held in prison, while another 10 are under trial. The total number of persons convicted of sexual offences amounts to 146.
-27 persons who have been sentenced to life imprisonment are detained for premeditated murder, while another 12 are under trial. At the same time, 30 people have been convicted and detained for murder and seven others are under trial. Most of the prisoners are in prison for crimes against property and persons, for burglaries and thefts. A total of 356 people are detained, of which 190 are convicted and 166 are under trial.
-There are 33 convicts in prison for traffic offenses, while a significant share of the pie with the prison population concerns immigration. Specifically, according to prison data, 66 people are being detained for assisting migrants, an offense that has begun to concern the authorities in recent years, and another 10 are awaiting trial. At the same time, 40 people are detained for illegal immigration, while eight others are awaiting trial. Other practices could, as we have been told, be implemented so that these people return to their country instead of being imprisoned and not burden the system of overpopulation.
-16 incarcerated for debts. 16 people are currently imprisoned in Cypriot prisons for financial debts. It is an issue that should concern the authorities, because today people are imprisoned with only an offense that they have committed to owe money.
As we were told from prison, it is one thing for a father not to pay alimony for his children and it is another to be unable to pay a fine to the state mainly, such as Social Insurance, Income Tax or for a fine after a conviction for a traffic offence or other misdemeanour. The issue had preoccupied the state many years ago and was left pending.
An arrangement can be made with the Attorney General for the payment of debts in instalments, but some are unable to pay for it and end up in the cell. In the past, there have been various discussions on the issue, but it has been left without anyone to deal with again.
331 incarcerated in a separate ward awaiting trial
A large number of prisoners are on trial, which creates multiple problems in prisons since it increases the population in an unmanageable situation.
At the moment, 331 people are being held in a separate wing in the Central Prison awaiting trial. According to the data we have gathered, more than 50% of these people are eventually acquitted by the courts or their criminal prosecution is suspended, resulting in a long period of deprivation of their liberty, a burden on the penitentiary, while other, more painless solutions could be implemented.
During the period when Emily Giolitis was in the Ministry of Justice, a bill was submitted to the Parliament that expanded the categories of people who could be detained under electronic surveillance (wristband) in their homes.
However, during the debate of the bill in Parliament, disagreements arose among MPs and reactions, mainly from the legal world, on which categories of defendants could be confined outside prison. In the end, the project was abandoned, resulting in 331 people being on trial today, some for more than a year, until the case for which they are accused is heard.
14% go in and out of prisons
According to prison data, the following interesting data emerges. 14% of prisoners go in and out of prisons. That is, there is a significant portion of people who are repeat offenders and when they are released they then return to prison because they committed other crimes.
This, as we have been told, is also related to the fact that there is no supportive environment for the rehabilitation and acceptance of these people who resort to other crimes. We are not talking about people who are involved in the underworld, but about people who have no destiny in the sun and as a result resort mainly to burglaries and thefts or drugs.
