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ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PRISONER CHARACTERISTICS
SNAPSHOT
At 30 June 2018:
There were 11,849 prisoners who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, a 5% increase (542 prisoners) from 30 June 2017. The number of non-Indigenous prisoners increased by 4% (1,225 prisoners) in the same period. (Table 2)
From 30 June 2017, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate increased by 2%, from 2,434 to 2,481 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. The non-Indigenous rate also increased by 2% over the same period from 160 to 164 prisoners per 100,000 non-Indigenous population. (Table 20)
The proportion of adult prisoners who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ranged from 9% in Victoria (691 prisoners) to 84% (1,477 prisoners) in the Northern Territory. (Table 14)
The most common offence/charge for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners was Acts intended to cause injury (34% or 4,071 prisoners) followed by Unlawful entry with intent (14% or 1,679 prisoners). The most common offences/charges for non-Indigenous prisoners were Illicit drug offences (20% or 6,288 prisoners) and Acts intended to cause injury (18% or 5,583 prisoners). (Table 1)
Footnote(s): a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Explanatory Notes, paragraphs 84–86. (b) Offences against justice procedures, government security and operations.
Source(s): Prisoners in Australia
Three out of four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners (75% or 8,917 prisoners) had been imprisoned under sentence previously, compared to one in two non-Indigenous prisoners (50% or 15,446 prisoners). (Table 29)
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, 30 June 2018.GIF)
