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At 30 June 2014:

• There were 31,200 male prisoners in Australian prisons, an increase of 10% (2,774 prisoners) from 28,426 prisoners at 30 June 2013. The number of female prisoners also increased by 10% (242 prisoners) from 2,349 prisoners at 30 June 2013, to 2,591 prisoners at 30 June 2014. This is the highest number of male and female prisoners since 2004. (Table 2)

• Since 30 June 2013, the national male imprisonment rate increased by 8% from 322.3 to 347.5 prisoners per 100,000 male adult population. This was twelve times greater than the national female imprisonment rate, which also increased from 25.9 to 28.1 prisoners per 100,000 female adult population. These were the highest male and female imprisonment rates since 2004. (Table 14)


• The most common offences/charges for which male prisoners were in custody were:
  
  – Acts intended to cause injury (21%)

  – Sexual assault, unlawful entry with intent, and illicit drug offences (all 12%).

  
  
• The most common offences/charges for which female prisoners were in custody were:
  
  – Acts intended to cause injury (20%)

  – Illicit drug offences (17%)

  – Offences against justice procedures, government security and operations (11%). (Table 1)