There were 26,163 sentenced prisoners in Australian prisons, an increase of 3% (650 prisoners) from 30 June 2014 (25,513 sentenced prisoners). This follows a 9% increase from 30 June, 2013 to 30 June, 2014, which was the largest increase for the decade. (Table 2)
The largest increase was recorded in New South Wales (4% or 329 prisoners). Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory were the only state and territory to record a decrease in the number of sentenced prisoners (4% or 187 prisoners and 6% or 19 prisoners respectively). (Table 26)
The proportion of prisoners that were sentenced varied from 64% (1,750 sentenced prisoners) in South Australia to 77% (4,786 sentenced prisoners) in Victoria. (Table 13)
The median aggregate sentence length for sentenced prisoners was 3.0 years and the median expected time to serve for sentenced prisoners was 1.8 years. (Tables 10 and 11)
Close to half of all sentenced prisoners (48% or 12,453) had been sentenced in the previous 12 months. (Table 8)
The most common offences for sentenced prisoners were:
– Acts intended to cause injury (18%)
– Sexual assault (13%)
– Illicit drug offences (12%). (Table 1)
Footnote(s): (a) For a definition of most serious offence, see Explanatory Notes paragraphs 85-86. (b) Offences against justice procedures, government security and operations. (c) Includes divisions 4-5, 8-9, 11-14 and 16 of the ANZSOC and prisoners whose offence was unknown.
Source(s): Prisoners in Australia
Acts intended to cause injury was the most common offence for sentenced prisoners in New South Wales (18%), Queensland (19%), Northern Territory (43%) and the Australian Capital Territory (25%). (Table 22)
Footnote(s): (a) Most serious offence of acts intended to cause injury. For a definition of most serious offence, see Explanatory Notes paragraphs 85-86.
Source(s): Prisoners in Australia
Of the 2,392 sentenced prisoners with an offence of homicide, seven out of ten (70% or 1,675 prisoners) had an offence of murder.
Footnote(s): (a) For a description of most serious offence see Explanatory Notes paragraphs 85-86.
Source(s): Prisoners in Australia
Of the 3,238 sentenced prisoners with an offence of illicit drug offences, nearly two-thirds (65% or 2,093 prisoners) had an offence of deal or traffic in illicit drugs. (Table 22)
Footnote(s): (a) For a definition of most serious offence, see Explanatory Notes paragraphs 85-86.
Source(s): Prisoners in Australia
The median aggregate sentence length for sentenced prisoners was highest in South Australia (4.5 years) and lowest in the Northern Territory (1.4 years). (Table 23)
The median expected time to serve for sentenced prisoners was highest in South Australia (3.2 years) and lowest in the Northern Territory (1.0 years). (Table 24)
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