1,039 prisoners were in custody in the midlands in 2020.
The average number of prisoners in custody fell by just under 4 per cent last year.
3,824 people were in custody in 2020, according the Irish Prison Service's annual report - including 814 in the Midlands Prison and 225 in Portlaoise Prison.
That's down from 3,971 in 2019.
The reduction is partly attributed to the temporary release measures between March and May.
While the impact of Covid-19 on court sessions also saw the number of committals fall by 29 per cent.
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