A total of 2,369 people were imprisoned in both territories, comprising 556 prisoners in Srpska Republika [1] and a further 1,813 in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina [2]. There is no updated information how many prisoners are incarcerated for the drug law related offences.  According to the SPACE I 2018 survey, approximately one-third of all prisoners [3] in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are serving sentences for drug law offences and approximately 81 people were serving sentences in prisons of the Republika Srbska [4]; in total, this equates with approximately 863 people in prison for drug law offences, which can be for terms of up to one (1) year [5].

HIV prevalence among prisoners is reported to be very low [6] with only one (1) case registered in recent years [7] although ART is reported to be available inside of prisons, as is opioid substitution therapy (OST) but only in those prisons in the federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina [8]; needle/syringe programmes (NSP) are not operating in any prisons of either territory [9].

The cost of incarceration is €50 per prisoner, per day, or €18,250 per year; prisoners – except those convicted for murder, paedophilia, rape, and human trafficking – have the opportunity to redeem one (1) year of their sentence by paying €18,250 [10].

As of 2018, there were estimated to be 12,500 people who inject drugs [11] with 0% HIV prevalence [12]. The estimated cost of NSP in 2018 in the federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was €216 per client, per year, with OST costing €360 per client, per year [13]. Using the most recent data available from 2016, unemployment benefit is paid at €971.76 per person, per year, or €80.98 per month; this equates to 40% of the average monthly net salary set at a minimum of €202.47 over the previous three (3) months [14].

Consequently, it costs €1,548 to provide support each year to an individual who injects drugs when living in the community, whereas the cost rises 11-fold to €18,250 per year if the drug user is put into prison; this is an increase of €16,702 per drug user, per year, which is born in full by the government.

[1]   World Prison Brief. Republika Srpska. London; Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research, University of London. https://www.prisonstudies.org/country/bosnia-and-herzegovina-republika-srpska (accessed 4 August 2021).
[2]   World Prison Brief. Bosnia and Herzegovina. London; Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research, University of London. https://www.prisonstudies.org/country/bosnia-and-herzegovina-federation (accessed 4 August 2021).
[3]   Stöver H, Teltzrow R (eds.). Drug-Treatment Systems in Prisons in Eastern and South-East Europe. Strasbourg; Council of Europe, June 2017. https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/attachments/5502/Drug-treatment_systems_in_prisons_in_Eastern_and_South-East_Europe.pdf (accessed 4 August 2021).
[4]   Aebi MF, Tiago MM. SPACE I – 2018 – Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics: Prison populations. Strasbourg; Council of Europe, updated 11 June 2019. https://wp.unil.ch/space/files/2019/06/FinalReportSPACEI2018_190611-1.pdf (accessed 4 August 2021).
[5]    European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Bosnia and Herzegovina. National Drug Situation Report 2017. Luxembourg; Publications Office of the European Union, 2018. https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/9424/National_drug_situation_report_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina.pdf (accessed 4 August 2021).
[6]   Sayyah M, Rahim F, Kayedani GA, Shirbandi K, Saki-Malehi A. Global View of HIV Prevalence in Prisons: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Iran J Public Health. 2019;48(2):217-226. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6556176/ (accessed 4 August 2021).
[7]   Stöver H, et al, Ibid.
[8]   Harm Reduction International (HRI). Global State of Harm Reduction 2020, Regional Overview 2.2 Eurasia. London; HRI, 2021. https://www.hri.global/files/2020/10/26/Global_State_HRI_2020_2_2_Eurasia_FA_WEB.pdf (accessed 3 August 2021); https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/404149/Health_in_prisons_FS_Bos-and-Herz_WHO.pdf
[9]   HRI, Ibid.
[10]    Information provided by national partner.
[11]    Parsons D, Burrows D, Falkenberry H, McCallum L. Regional Analysis: Assessment of HIV Service Packages for Key Populations in Selected Countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Washington DC; APMG Health, April 2019. (accessed 9 August 2021).
[12]    HRI, Op.cit.
[13]    Information provided by national partners.
[14]    International Labour Organization (ILO) Technical Note. The state of application of the provisions for social security of the international treaties on social rights ratified by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Geneva; ILO, 2016. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_norm/—normes/documents/publication/wcms_553511.pdf (accessed 4 August 2021).