Prisoners in Australia

From 30 June 2023 to 30 June 2024, total prisoners increased by 5% (630) to 12,946. The largest numerical changes by most serious offence/charge were:

• acts intended to cause injury, up 10% (352) to 3,740
• offences against justice, up 11% (149) to 1,450
• prohibited and regulated weapons and explosives offences, up 52% (122) to 356

The imprisonment rate increased from 190 to 194 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 5% (595) to 12,092. Female prisoners also increased by 5% (38) to 857.

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 18% (891) to 5,709. Sentenced prisoners decreased by 4% (265) to 7,234.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased 19% (678) to 4,188. The age-standardised imprisonment rate increased from 1,797 to 2,122 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population.

From 30 June 2023 to 30 June 2024, total prisoners decreased by 8% (522) to 5,918. This was the only numerical decrease for any of the states and territories. The largest numerical changes by most serious offence/charge were:

• acts intended to cause injury, down 31% (437) to 964
• prohibited and regulated weapons and explosives offences, down 42% (98) to 137
• unlawful entry with intent, up 14% (96) to 773

The imprisonment rate decreased from 121 to 108 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners decreased by 8% (511) to 5,631. Female prisoners decreased by 7% (20) to 279.

Unsentenced prisoners decreased by 17% (408) to 1,998. Sentenced prisoners decreased by 3% (115) to 3,916.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners decreased by 10% (83) to 729. The age-standardised imprisonment rate decreased from 1,778 to 1,599 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population.

From 30 June 2023 to 30 June 2024, total prisoners increased by 6% (653) to 10,879. The largest numerical changes by most serious offence/charge were:

• acts intended to cause injury, up 13% (365) to 3,260
• sexual assault and related offences, up 10% (140) to 1,558
• theft and related offences, up 12% (49) to 456

The imprisonment rate increased from 243 to 251 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 6% (581) to 9,829. Female prisoners increased by 8% (76) to 1,055.

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 11% (417) to 4,103. Sentenced prisoners increased by 4% (232) to 6,720.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 12% (442) to 4,243. The age-standardised imprisonment rate increased from 2,232 to 2,435 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population.

From 30 June 2023 to 30 June 2024, total prisoners increased by 12% (351) to 3,346. The largest numerical changes by most serious offence/charge were:

• sexual assault and related offences, up 21% (117) to 675
• acts intended to cause injury, up 11% (70) to 735
• theft and related offences, up 26% (61) to 296

The imprisonment rate increased from 204 to 224 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 12% (333) to 3,104. Female prisoners increased by 5% (12) to 236.

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 14% (191) to 1,515. Sentenced prisoners increased by 9% (157) to 1,822.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased 17% (125) to 851. The age-standardised imprisonment rate increased from 2,372 to 2,740 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population.

From 30 June 2023 to 30 June 2024, total prisoners increased by 16% (1,096) to 7,814. This was the largest numerical increase for any of the states and territories. The largest numerical changes by most serious offence/charge were:

• acts intended to cause injury, up 37% (564) to 2,077
• sexual assault and related offences, up 16% (153) to 1,111
• unlawful entry with intent, up 9% (83) to 1,043

The imprisonment rate increased from 304 to 340 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 16% (974) to 7,025. Female prisoners increased by 19% (129) to 794.

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 31% (748) to 3,126. Sentenced prisoners increased by 8% (352) to 4,667.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 22% (640) to 3,507. The age-standardised imprisonment rate increased from 3,605 to 4,364 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population.

From 30 June 2023 to 30 June 2024, total prisoners increased by 7% (50) to 801. The largest numerical changes by most serious offence/charge were:

• acts intended to cause injury, up 31 prisoners to 238
• offences against justice, up 14 prisoners to 77

The imprisonment rate increased from 164 to 174 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 5% (36) to 738. Female prisoners increased by 30% (14) to 61.

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 13% (38) to 329. Sentenced prisoners increased by 4% (19) to 471.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 15% (25) to 194. The age-standardised imprisonment rate increased from 811 to 937 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population.

From 30 June 2023 to 30 June 2024, total prisoners increased by 8% (178) to 2,284. The largest numerical changes by most serious offence/charge were:

• acts intended to cause injury, up 5% (58) to 1,192
• offences against justice, up 31% (51) to 217
• sexual assault and related offences, up 10% (24) to 265

The imprisonment rate increased from 1,107 to 1,182 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 8% (165) to 2,156. Female prisoners increased by 14% (16) to 130.

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 20% (176) to 1,037. Sentenced prisoners were stable (up 3) at 1,244.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 9% (163) to 2,023. The age-standardised imprisonment rate increased from 3,029 to 3,252 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population.

From 30 June 2023 to 30 June 2024, total prisoners increased by 12% (46) to 421. The largest numerical change by most serious offence/charge was for acts intended to cause injury, up 42 prisoners to 122.

The imprisonment rate increased from 103 to 113 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 13% (47) to 398. Female prisoners increased by 17% (4) to 28.

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 21% (37) to 211. Sentenced prisoners increased by 3% (7) to 211.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 31% (32) to 134. The age-standardised imprisonment rate increased from 1,593 to 2,022 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population.