4517.0 - Prisoners in Australia, 2014 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 11/12/2014   
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KEY FINDINGS

Australian adult prisoner numbers climb to ten year high of 33,791
    • The number of prisoners in adult corrective services custody increased by 10% over the past 12 months to reach a ten year high of 33,791.
    • The national imprisonment rate also climbed to a ten year high of 185.6 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.
One in five male and female prisoners were in custody for a most serious offence of acts intended to cause injury
    • The most common offence for which male prisoners were in custody was acts intended to cause injury (21%), followed by sexual assault, unlawful entry with intent, and illicit drug offences (all 12%).
    • The most common offence for which female prisoners were in custody was acts intended to cause injury (20%), followed by illicit drug offences (17%) and offences against justice procedures, government security and operations (11%).
Prisoners, selected characteristics, 20042014




Year (at 30 June)
Sex
Indigenous status
Total(a)



Males
Females
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Non-Indigenous
Number
Imprisonment rate(b)

2004
22 499
1 672
5 048
19 123
24 171
158.8
2005
23 619
1 734
5 656
19 697
25 353
164.2
2006
23 963
1 827
6 091
19 699
25 790
165.1
2007
25 240
1 984
6 630
20 387
27 224
171.1
2008
25 658
1 957
6 706
20 661
27 615
169.8
2009
27 192
2 125
7 386
21 554
29 317
176.0
2010
27 472
2 228
7 584
21 827
29 700
175.0
2011
27 078
2 028
7 656
21 426
29 106
168.8
2012
27 182
2 199
7 981
21 266
29 381
167.4
2013
28 426
2 349
8 430
22 217
30 775
172.2
2014
31 200
2 591
9 264
24 453
33 791
185.6

(a) Includes persons for whom Indigenous status is unknown.
(b) Rate per 100,000 adult population.


Graph Image for PROPORTION OF PRISONERS, sex by selected most serious offence or charge(a), 30 June 2014

Footnote(s): (a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Explanatory Notes, paragraphs 78–80. (b) Offences against justice procedures, government security and operations.

Source(s): Prisoners in Australia