Corrective Services, Australia

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National and state information about adult prisoners and community-based corrections, including legal status, custody type, Indigenous status and sex.

Reference period
September Quarter 2024
Released
28/11/2024
  • Next Release 13/03/2025
    Corrective Services, Australia, December Quarter 2024
  • Next Release 12/06/2025
    Corrective Services, Australia, March Quarter 2025
  • Next Release 18/09/2025
    Corrective Services, Australia, June Quarter 2025
  • View all releases

Key statistics

  • 44,316 persons were in custody in the September quarter 2024, up 1% (265 persons) since the June quarter 2024
  • There were 17,856 unsentenced prisoners, up 1% (231 persons) for the quarter
  • There were 81,958 persons serving community-based corrections (CBC) orders, up 1% (971 persons) for September quarter 2024

Persons in custody

There were 44,316 (average daily number) prisoners, up:

  • 1% from 44,051 in the June quarter 2024
  • 5% from 42,215 in the September quarter 2023

Average number of persons in custody(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Average number of persons in custody(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Line chart with 21 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying .
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Number. Data ranges from 40330 to 44316.
End of interactive chart.

(a) Based on average daily number.

Imprisonment rates

The imprisonment rate was 208 persons per 100,000 adult population:

  • stable since June quarter 2024
  • up from 204 persons in September quarter 2023

Average daily imprisonment rate(a), By states and territories, Sep 2023, Jun 2024 and Sep 2024

Average daily imprisonment rate(a), By states and territories, Sep 2023, Jun 2024 and Sep 2024

Bar chart with 3 data series.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying .
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Rate. Data ranges from 100.9 to 1157.
End of interactive chart.

(a) Rate is the number of prisoners per 100,000 adult population. Based on average daily number.

Sex

Of all prisoners:

  • 92% (40,897) were male
  • 8% (3,420) were female

The imprisonment rate for male prisoners was 390 persons per 100,000 adult male population, stable since last quarter.

The imprisonment rate for female prisoners was 32 persons per 100,000 adult female population, stable since last quarter.

Type of custody

Of all prisoners:

  • 84% (37,272) were in secure custody
  • 16% (7,044) were in open custody

Legal status

26,359 (59%) of the 44,306 prisoners (first day of the month) were sentenced, up from:

  • 26,195 in the June quarter 2024
  • 25,913 in the September quarter 2023

17,856 (40%) of the 44,306 prisoners (first day of the month) were unsentenced, up from:

  • 17,625 in the June quarter 2024
  • 16,182 in the September quarter 2023

 

Average number of unsentenced prisoners(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Average number of unsentenced prisoners(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Line chart with 21 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying .
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Number. Data ranges from 13081 to 17856.
End of interactive chart.

(a) Based on average number on the first day of the month.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons in custody

There were 15,711 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners, up from:

  • 15,424 in the June quarter 2024
  • 14,183 in the September quarter 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rates

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate was 2,701 persons per 100,000 adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, up from:

  • 2,651 in the June quarter 2024
  • 2,500 in the September quarter 2023

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate for male prisoners was 4,930 persons per 100,000 adult male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, up from 4,816 persons last quarter.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate for female prisoners was 530 persons per 100,000 adult female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, down from 544 persons last quarter.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate(a), By states and territories, Sep 2023, Jun 2024 and Sep 2024

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate(a), By states and territories, Sep 2023, Jun 2024 and Sep 2024

Bar chart with 3 data series.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying .
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Rate. Data ranges from 841.4 to 4661.2.
End of interactive chart.

(a) Rate is the number of prisoners per 100,000 adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. Based on average daily number.

Federal sentenced persons in custody

There were 1,163 federal sentenced prisoners:

  • up from 1,140 in the June quarter 2024
  • down from 1,170 in the September quarter 2023

Prisoner receptions

The total number of prisoner receptions was 18,093, up from:

  • 17,854 in the June quarter 2024
  • 17,200 in the September quarter 2023

Number of prisoner receptions(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Number of prisoner receptions(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Line chart with 21 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying .
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Number. Data ranges from 14624 to 18093.
End of interactive chart.

(a) Total number of prisoner receptions.

Prisoner releases

The total number of prisoner releases was 18,320, up from:

  • 17,093 in the June quarter 2024
  • 16,779 in the September quarter 2023

Number of prisoner releases(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Number of prisoner releases(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Line chart with 21 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying .
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Number. Data ranges from 14498 to 18320.
End of interactive chart.

(a) Total number of prisoner releases.

Community-based corrections

Persons in community-based corrections

There were 81,958 persons serving CBC orders, up from: 

  • 80,987 in the June quarter 2024
  • 81,348 in the September quarter 2023

Average number of persons in community-based corrections(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Average number of persons in community-based corrections(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Line chart with 21 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying .
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Number. Data ranges from 77529 to 83648.
End of interactive chart.

(a) Based on average number on the first day of the month.

Rates for persons in community-based corrections

The rate of persons serving CBC orders was 384 persons per 100,000 adult population: 

  • up from 382 in the June quarter 2024
  • down from 393 in the September quarter 2023

Community-based corrections rate(a), By states and territories, Sep 2023, Jun 2024 and Sep 2024

Community-based corrections rate(a), By states and territories, Sep 2023, Jun 2024 and Sep 2024

Bar chart with 3 data series.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying .
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Rate. Data ranges from 174.7 to 837.2.
End of interactive chart.

(a) Rate per 100,000 adult persons for the state/territory of interest.

Sex

Of all persons serving CBC orders:

  • 80% (65,823) were male
  • 20% (16,102) were female

The rate for male persons serving CBC orders was 628 persons per 100,000 adult male population, up from 624 persons last quarter.

The rate for female persons serving CBC orders was 149 persons per 100,000 adult female population, up from 148 persons last quarter.

Type of community-based corrections orders

There were 57,238 Sentenced probation orders, up from:

  • 56,527 in the June quarter 2024
  • 56,725 in the September quarter 2023

Average number of Sentenced probation orders(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Average number of Sentenced probation orders(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Line chart with 21 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying .
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Number. Data ranges from 53314 to 57550.
End of interactive chart.

(a) Based on average number on the first day of the month.

There were 17,395 Parole orders:

  • up from 17,097 in the June quarter 2024
  • down from 17,413 in the September quarter 2023

Average number of Parole orders(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Average number of Parole orders(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Line chart with 21 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying .
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Number. Data ranges from 17097 to 18267.
End of interactive chart.

(a) Based on average number on the first day of the month.

There were 12,887 Community service orders, up from:

  • 12,843 in the June quarter 2024
  • 12,881 in the September quarter 2023

Average number of Community services orders(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Average number of Community services orders(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Line chart with 21 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying .
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Number. Data ranges from 12258 to 15014.
End of interactive chart.

(a) Based on average number on the first day of the month.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving community-based corrections orders

There were 21,701 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving CBC orders, up from:

  • 21,106 in the June quarter 2024
  • 20,186 in the September quarter 2023

Average number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons in community-based corrections(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Average number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons in community-based corrections(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024

Line chart with 21 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying .
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Number. Data ranges from 16923 to 21701.
End of interactive chart.

(a) Based on average number on the first day of the month.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving community-based corrections orders, type of orders

There were 14,875 Sentenced probation orders, up from: 

  • 14,441 in the June quarter 2024
  • 13,763 in the September quarter 2023

There were 5,110 Parole orders, up from:

  • 4,934 in the June quarter 2024
  • 4,726 in the September quarter 2023

There were 3,023 Community service orders: 

  • up from 3,015 in the June quarter 2024
  • down from 3,034 in the September quarter 2023

Data downloads

Corrective Services datacubes

Data files

Methodology

Scope

Persons held in adult corrective services custody or who are serving adult community-based orders in Australia during the reference period. Excludes persons unlawfully absent or in legal custody transferred to another agency.

Geography

Data available for:

  • Australia
  • States and territories

Source

Administrative records created and maintained by the state and territory corrective services agencies and Australian Government Attorney-General's Department.

Collection method

Administrative data collected quarterly from state and territory corrective services agencies and Australian Government Attorney-General's Department.

Concepts, sources and methods

Not applicable for this release. 

History of changes

Not applicable for this release. 

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