2.2 Conditions of incarceration and the treatment of inmates 2.2.1 Although the level of incarceration has dropped to 139%, considerably lower than the 170% recorded at the end of the 2002/03 financial year, South Africa's incarceration rate remains the highest in Africa and one of the highest in the world. Nineteen of South Africa's 239 operational correctional centres recorded levels of overcrowding greater than 200%, and conditions of incarceration at these centres are "shockingly inhumane" and non-compliant with constitutional requirements regarding detention. The JICS alarmingly points out that since 2004 progress made in ensuring more equitable distribution of inmates was negligible: despite the above-mentioned centres which were critically overcrowded, 49 were less than 100% occupied. Although the awaiting-trial (ATD) population remains a major contributor to overcrowding, the JICS emphasised that the increase in those serving long sentences will have a delayed impact, and could result in undoing progress made in reducing the prison population.