"The census will help to gather exclusive information on the social and demographic, as well as the criminal situation among prisoners," Vyacheslav Seliverstov said, adding that separate questions will be developed for juveniles and female prisoners. The results will be available in 2010.
According to the prison service, an estimated 892,000 inmates were imprisoned in Russian correctional facilities as of April 1.
The head of the Federal Penitentiary Service said that inmate numbers were currently rising, adding that alternative forms of punishment, such as house arrest, were needed.
In June, Russia plans to trial an electronic tagging system for prisoners in four regions, including Moscow. The project is being funded by the European Commission which has allocated a total of 3 million euros ($4.7 million) for the scheme.
The electronic device, usually attached to the inmate's ankle, monitors the offender's movement 24 hours a day and was developed to help cut prison overcrowding.
Electronic tagging, also known as electronic monitoring and home detention, is widely used in the U.S., Great Britain, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia and the Netherlands.
If the Russian trials prove successful, the Federal Penitentiary Service will ask the Russian government to give the go ahead for the project to be used throughout Russia.
Currently, some 60% of convicted offenders in Russia receive suspended sentences, and it is hoped the new monitoring system will help liberalize the criminal justice system and reduce state costs for housing inmates.
