4517.0 - Prisoners in Australia, 2016 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 08/12/2016   
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Unsentenced prisoners

At 30 June, 2016:
  • There were 12,111 unsentenced prisoners in Australian prisons, an increase of 22% (2,213 prisoners) from 30 June, 2015. This is the largest increase in the last decade, and follows increases of 11% from 2013 to 2014, and 21% from 2014 to 2015. (Table 2)

Graph Image for UNSENTENCED PRISONERS, 30 June 2006 to 30 June 2016

Source(s): Prisoners in Australia


  • The proportion of unsentenced prisoners varied from 27% (155 prisoners) in Tasmania to 41% (1,196 prisoners) in South Australia. (Table 13)

Graph Image for PROPORTION OF UNSENTENCED PRISONERS, states and territories, 30 June 2015 and 30 June 2016

Source(s): Prisoners in Australia


  • The most common charges for unsentenced prisoners were:
    • Acts intended to cause injury (29%);
    • Illicit drug offences (15%); and
    • Unlawful entry with intent (11%). (Table 1)

Graph Image for UNSENTENCED PRISONERS, most serious charge(a), 30 June 2016

Footnote(s): (a) For a definition of most serious charge see Explanatory Notes paragraph 87. (b) Includes divisions 1, 4-5, 8-9 and 11-16 of the ANZSOC and prisoners whose offence was unknown.

Source(s): Prisoners in Australia



Graph Image for UNSENTENCED PRISONERS, most serious charge(a), 30 June 2015 and 30 June 2016

Footnote(s): (a) For a definition of most serious charge see Explanatory Notes paragraph 87. (b) Includes divisions 1, 4-6, 9 and 11-16 of the ANZSOC and prisoners whose offence was unknown.

Source(s): Prisoners in Australia


  • At 30 June, 2016, median time on remand for unsentenced prisoners was 2.9 months, up from 2.7 months at 30 June, 2015. The median time spent on remand was longest in New South Wales (3.7 months) and shortest in Tasmania (1.4 months). Time on remand as reported in the Prisoner Census is time on remand to date as at 30 June, 2016, and not the total time spent on remand. Time on remand is influenced by a number of factors, particularly the time it takes for a case to come before a court. (Table 31 and historical data)