PRISONER CHARACTERISTICS, AUSTRALIA

At 30 June 2013 there were 30,775 prisoners (sentenced and unsentenced) in Australian prisons, an increase of 5% (1,394 prisoners) from 30 June 2012. (Table 1)

The national imprisonment rate as at 30 June 2013 was 170 prisoners per 100,000 adult population, compared to 165 prisoners per 100,000 adult population in 2012. (Table 2)

Males comprised 92% (28,426) of the total prisoner population at 30 June 2013, while females comprised 8% (2,349). (Table 1)

The median age of male prisoners at 30 June 2013 was 33.9 years. Females had a median age of 34.5 years. Prisoners aged between 20 and 44 years accounted for over three quarters (77%) of the overall prison population. (Table 3)



The imprisonment rate for males at 30 June 2013 was 318 prisoners per 100,000 adult males, approximately 12 times the rate for females (26 female prisoners per 100,000 adult females). (Table 15)

Unsentenced prisoners comprised 24% (7,375) of the total prisoner population. The number of unsentenced prisoners increased by 7% (503) from June 2012. (Tables 1 and 2)

Acts intended to cause injury was the most serious offence (20% of all prisoners), followed by illicit drug offences (12%), unlawful entry with intent (12%), and sexual assault (11%). (Table 4)