The Bhutanese Leading the way.
There are currently 22 inmates at Chamgang Central Prison diagnosed with mental health conditions, including mixed anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, substance use disorder, and bipolar disorder, according to the Home Minister.
The Home Minister, Tshering, in response to a question from The Bhutanese during the 24th Meet-the-Press session said the inmates are under medication and constant care, with regular clinical assessments conducted by psychiatric experts from the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH).
He said that health officials are also stationed at the prison to provide primary healthcare services and facilitate referrals when required.
The update comes amid question raised by this reporter following an incident involving a prisoner with mental illness that occurred two years ago as the inmate murdered his roommate.
The concern was raised regarding issues of safety, treatment adequacy, and system readiness within Bhutan’s prison facilities.
The issue is also about the judiciary convicting people with mental health conditions for various crimes and how these convicts would cope behind bars.
Lyonpo Tshering acknowledged that managing inmates particularly those with mental health conditions within congested prison infrastructure presents challenges. However, efforts are being made to house inmates with mental illness separately and keep them under close observation.
Overcrowding Remains a Challenge
The Home Minister shared that as of 3rd February 2026 Bhutan has a total of 2,222 inmates housed across various prison facilities. Of these, 39.55 percent are held in residential prisons, including Chamgang Central Prison, Lungzor District Prison, and the Youth Development and Rehabilitation Centre (YDRC) in Chukha.
The remaining 1,343 inmates are accommodated in Open-Air Prisons spread across 12 dzongkhags.
Lyonpo Tshering said that despite ongoing reforms, prison congestion remains a concern, with facilities operating at approximately 38 percent over their intended capacity.
Lyonpo said that prison congestion has been partially mitigated through reformative and rehabilitative initiatives, particularly the Open-Air Prison Program, which was introduced in the 1980s as a restorative justice measure.
Under the program, eligible inmates are provided opportunities to develop vocational skills, reflect on their actions, and prepare for positive reintegration into society.
Further expansion of the program is underway, with a new comprehensive Open-Air Prison facility being established at Yarjugang in Wangduephodrang.
The project is being supported by the PEMA Secretariat, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
Once completed, the facility is expected to enhance reformative and skills development opportunities for inmates nearing the completion of their sentences.
Meanwhile, answering another question, Lyonpo shared that records show a declining trend in convictions over the past year. In 2025, a total of 1,504 individuals were convicted, representing a 23.88 percent decrease compared to 1,976 convictions in 2024.
Earlier figures show 2,486 convictions in 2023, 2,108 convictions in 2022, and 1,739 in 2021.
