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Australian born prisoners accounted for four in every five prisoners (81% or 33,573 prisoners).
Overseas born prisoners accounted for 18% of all prisoners (7,294 prisoners) and overseas born persons accounted for just over one-third (35%) of the Australian population aged 17 years and over. (Table 22 and unpublished data from ABS cat. no. 3101.0Australian Demographic Statistics)
Victoria had the highest proportion of overseas born prisoners (26% or 1,847 prisoners). Of these, the most common country of birth was Vietnam (20% of overseas born prisoners or 374 prisoners).
From 2009 to 2017, for overseas born prisoners:
Prisoners born in New Zealand have increased by 50% (806 to 1,208 prisoners), while the imprisonment rate for New Zealand born prisoners also grew over this time, increasing 20% from 188 to 225 prisoners per 100,000 resident population born in New Zealand. (Table 22 and historical data)
Footnote(s): (a) Includes Channel Islands and Isle of Man (b) Excludes SARs and Taiwan province.
Source(s): Prisoners in Australia
In relation to the three most common offences as at 30 June 2017:
Acts intended to cause injury was the most common offence for prisoners born in New Zealand and Sudan, representing 24% and 38% of these populations respectively.
Illicit drug offences was the most common offence for prisoners born in Hong Kong (80%), Vietnam (72%), China (63%) and Malaysia (62%).
Sexual assault was the most common offence for prisoners born in the United Kingdom, representing 28% of all prisoners born in the United Kingdom. (Table 7)
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