Archived content. This page is no longer actively maintained and may not function as intended. For the latest information and statistics visit the ABS Website.
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PRISONER CHARACTERISTICS
Snapshot
At 30 June 2017:
There were 11,307 prisoners who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, a 7% increase (711 prisoners) from 30 June 2016. The number of non-Indigenous prisoners increased by 6% (1,654 prisoners). (Table 2)
Source(s): Prisoners in Australia
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners accounted for just over a quarter (27%) of the total Australian prisoner population. The total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Australia aged 18 years and over in 2017 was approximately 2% of the Australian population aged 18 years and over (based on Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0) and Estimates and Projections, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, 2001 to 2026 (cat. no. 3238.0)). (Table 1)
From 30 June 2017, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate increased by 4%, from 2,346 to 2,434 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. The non-Indigenous rate also increased by 4% over the same period from 154 to 160 prisoners per 100,000 non-Indigenous population. (Table 20)
The proportion of adult prisoners who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ranged from 9% in Victoria (610 prisoners) to 84% (1,349 prisoners) in the Northern Territory. (Table 14)
The most common offence/charge for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners was Acts intended to cause injury (35% or 3,967 prisoners) followed by Unlawful entry with intent (14% or 1,607 prisoners). The most common offence/charge for non-Indigenous prisoners was Illicit drug offences (19% or 5,777 prisoners) and Acts intended to cause injury (18% or 5,376 prisoners). (Table 1)
Footnote(s): a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Explanatory Notes, paragraphs 84–86. (b) Offences against justice procedures, government security and operations.
Source(s): Prisoners in Australia
Just over three out of four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners (76% or 8,622 prisoners) had been imprisoned under sentence previously, compared to nearly one in two non-Indigenous prisoners (49% or 14,638 prisoners). (Table 29)
Document Selection
These documents will be presented in a new window.
Quality Declaration 
Print Page
Print All
, 30 June 2017.GIF)
