SENTENCED PRISONERS

The Australian Capital Territory recorded the largest proportional increase in sentenced prisoners between 30 June 2012 and 2013 (18% or 41 prisoners), followed by Victoria (13% or 498). Decreases in the number of sentenced prisoners were recorded in Tasmania (11% or 45), Western Australia (1% or 59) and New South Wales (1% or 37). (Table 27)

Most serious offence

With the exception of Victoria and South Australia, acts intended to cause injury was the most common most serious offence for sentenced prisoners within each state and territory. In Victoria, offences against justice procedures (18% or 781 persons) was the most common most serious offence and in South Australia, it was sexual assault (18% or 266 persons). (Table 24)

Aggregate sentence length

Excluding prisoners with indeterminate, life with a minimum and periodic detention sentences, the median aggregate sentence length at 30 June 2013 was highest in South Australia (4.5 years or 54 months), followed by New South Wales (3.6 years or 43 months). The lowest median aggregate sentence length was in the Northern Territory (1.3 years or 16 months). (Table 26)

Expected time to serve

Expected time to serve takes into account the earliest date of release for sentenced prisoners. Excluding prisoners with indeterminate and periodic detention sentences, the median expected time to serve for sentenced prisoners at 30 June 2013 was highest in South Australia (3.1 years or 37 months), followed by New South Wales (2.2 years or 27 months). The lowest median expected time to serve was in the Northern Territory (1.0 years or 12 months). (Table 28)