iTaukei make up 74 per cent of Fiji's prison population

Nearly three-quarters of Fiji's prison population is iTaukei, with young adults and sexual offenders making up the largest groups behind bars, according to the latest Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) statistics.

FCS director of training and rehabilitation Superintendent Isireli Dausiga revealed the figures during the Lau Provincial Council Meeting in Suva on Thursday.

He said there were 1650 inmates in Fiji's correctional facilities, with 74 per cent identifying as iTaukei.

"Of the convicted inmates, 1218 are iTaukei, 364 Indo-Fijians and 11 are Rotumans," Superintendent Dausiga said.

He said sexual offences remained the most common convictions, accounting for 764 inmates.

Christians largest religious group

The statistics show 1368 inmates, or 83 per cent, identified as Christians.

Head of the Catholic Church in Fiji Archbishop Peter Loy Chong said the Church continued to invest in programmes aimed at strengthening families and supporting young people.

"We celebrate the sacrament of confirmation to initiate young people into adult Christian life. It is a two-year programme," Archbishop Loy Chong said.

"We also promote post-confirmation programmes to accompany young people and require couples preparing for marriage to attend marriage preparation classes.

"We believe that by doing these things well, we help build a better society and reduce crime."

The Hindu faith accounted for 194 inmates, followed by 78 Muslims.

Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji national secretary Pandit Krishneel Krishan Tiwari said rehabilitation required community support rather than stigma.

"Crime is often influenced by poverty, substance abuse, family breakdown, unemployment and negative peer influences. We urge our members and the wider community not to stigmatise those who have served their sentences but to support rehabilitation," he said.

Young adults dominate

Superintendent Dausiga said inmates aged 18 to 35 formed the largest age group, accounting for 40 per cent of the prison population.

He said 657 inmates were aged between 18 and 35, followed by 633 aged 36 to 50.

There were 207 inmates aged 51 to 60, 116 aged 61 to 70, and 35 aged 71 to 90.

Superintendent Dausiga also revealed that 14 inmates were living with mental health conditions.

"Ten are iTaukei, including one woman, while four are Indo-Fijians," he said.