IMPRISONMENT RATES

At 30 June 2011, the Northern Territory continued to have the highest imprisonment rate at 762 prisoners per 100,000 adult population. All states and territories, with the exception of Queensland, recorded increased imprisonment rates since 2001. The Northern Territory recorded the largest percentage increase in the imprisonment rate between 2001 and 2011, rising 46% (from 523 prisoners per 100,000 adult population to 762 prisoners per 100,000 adult population). This was followed by Tasmania, increasing by 32% (from 98 to 130 prisoners per 100,000 adults). The imprisonment rate in Queensland decreased between 2001 and 2011 (down 4%, from 165 to 158 prisoners per 100,000 adults). (Table 3.4)

Sex

Between 2001 and 2011 the female imprisonment rate increased in all states and territories except for the Australian Capital Territory, which decreased from 14 to 13 female prisoners per 100,000 adult females. The Northern Territory recorded the highest proportional increase in the female imprisonment rate between 2001 and 2011, an increase of 150% (from 29 to 72 female prisoners per 100,000 adult female population), followed by Tasmania, with an increase of 80% (from 11 to 19 female prisoners per 100,000 adult female population).

Between 2001 and 2011 the male imprisonment rate increased in all states and territories, except Queensland. The Northern Territory recorded the highest proportional increase in the male imprisonment rate, an increase of 50% (from 934 to 1,402 male prisoners per 100,000 adult male population), followed by Tasmania, with an increase of 32% (from 187 to 247 male prisoners per 100,000 adult male population), and South Australia, with an increase of 32% (from 228 to 300 male prisoners per 100,000 adult male population). Queensland recorded a proportional decrease in male imprisonment rates of 5% (from 309 to 295 prisoners per 100,000 adult males).

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