There are two (2) prisons operated by the Government Ministry of National Security in St. Kitts and Nevis. There is Her Majesty's Prison which is operated on St. Kitts and the prison Farm in Nevis. The Superintendant of Prisons Mr. Franklin Dorset is in charge of the prison.
Her Majesty's Prison (HMS)
Her Majesty's Prison in St. Kitts is located in downtown Basseterre. It was built in 1840 by the British. It is situated next to the Police Headquarters on Cayon Street. It was designed to accommodate 60 inmates.
The Prison Farm
The Prison Farm in Nevis whose official name is Russell’s Rest is located in the hills of Maddens. It is used as a prison for inmates soon to be release from prison and inmates who do not pose a security risk.
The Prison Population
The prison population as at the last report was 373 inmates with 321 at Her Majesty's Prison and 48 at the Nevis Farm and one male at the Cardin Home. Out of the 373 prisoners 370 are male and the other three are females.
Hanging
The last person to be hanged in St. Kitts and Nevis was Al Laplace who was convicted of murdering his wife Diane by stabbing her in their home in Fig Tree, Sandy Point on 12 February 2004. Laplace was sentenced to death by hanging. He was hanged at the HMS prison in Basseterre on 19 December 2008.