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There were 9,264 prisoners in Australian prisons who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which was a 10% increase (834 prisoners) from 30 June 2013 (8,430 prisoners). This is the highest number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners since 2004. (Table 2)
The proportion of prisoners identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander varied from 8% in Victoria (474 prisoners) to 86% in the Northern Territory (1,279 prisoners). (Table 13)
The most common offence/charge for which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners were in custody was acts intended to cause injury (35% or 3,220 prisoners) followed by unlawful entry with intent (15% or 1,415 prisoners). The most common offences/charges for which non-Indigenous prisoners were in custody were acts intended to cause injury (16% or 3,827 prisoners) and illicit drug offences (16% or 3,835 prisoners). (Table 1)
Just over three in four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners (77% or 7,115 prisoners) had been imprisoned under sentence previously, compared to just over half of non-Indigenous prisoners (52% or 12,656 prisoners). (Table 8)
Source(s): Prisoners in Australia
Footnote(s): (a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Explanatory Notes, paragraphs 78–80. (b) Offences against justice procedures, government security and operations.