KEY FINDINGS

Australian adult prisoner numbers continue to rise.

§ The number of prisoners in adult corrective services custody increased by 4% from 41,202 at 30 June 2017 to 42,974 at 30 June 2018.

§ Between 2017 and 2018 the national imprisonment rate increased by 3% from 216 to 221 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Unsentenced prisoners and sentenced prisoners

§ The number of unsentenced prisoners in adult corrective services custody increased by 7%, from 12,911 at 30 June 2017 to 13,856 at 30 June 2018. Victoria had the largest change in unsentenced prisoners, increasing 22% (or 485 prisoners) from 30 June 2017.

§ Sentenced prisoners increased by 3% from 28,199 to 29,030 prisoners.





Sex

§ Female prisoner numbers increased at a faster rate than male prisoners in 2018, up 10% (326 prisoners) from 30 June 2017 to a total of 3,625 prisoners. Male prisoners increased 4% (1,438 prisoners) in the same time frame.

§ Males continue to comprise the majority of the Australian prison population accounting for 92% of total prisoners.

Most common offences for prisoners in Australia

§ The most prevalent offences were:

• Acts intended to cause injury (9,659 prisoners or 22%);
• Illicit drug offences (6,779 prisoners or 16%); and
• Sexual Assault and related offences (5,283 prisoners or 12%).

§ Since 2017, Illicit drug offences and Sexual Assault and related offences had the largest increases in number of prisoners, up 624 and 498 prisoners respectively. These two offences combined accounted for the majority (63%) of the national increase in the prison population.