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There were 29,030 sentenced prisoners in Australian prisons, an increase of 3% (831 prisoners) from 30 June 2017. Over the past five years to 30 June 2018, the proportion of prisoners that were sentenced decreased from 76% to 68%. (Table 2)
The proportion of prisoners that were sentenced varied from 62% in South Australia (1,857 prisoners) and the Australian Capital Territory (305 prisoners) to 72% (4,937 prisoners) in Western Australia. (Table 14)
The largest increases in sentenced prisoners were recorded in New South Wales (3% or 258 prisoners) and Queensland (4% or 257 prisoners). South Australia was the only state to record a decrease in the number of sentenced prisoners (1% or 19 prisoners). (Table 27)
The median aggregate sentence length for sentenced prisoners was 3.0 years and the median expected time to serve for sentenced prisoners was 1.9 years. (Tables 11 and 12)
Just under half of all sentenced prisoners (45% or 13,136) had been sentenced in the previous 12 months. (Table 9)
The most common offences for sentenced prisoners were:
Acts intended to cause injury (18%);
Illicit drug offences (15%);
Sexual assault and related offences (14%); and
Unlawful entry with intent (11%). (Table 1)
Footnote(s): (a) For a definition of most serious offence, see Explanatory Notes paragraphs 84-86. (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 is unknown.
Source(s): Prisoners in Australia
Acts intended to cause injury was the most common offence for sentenced prisoners in New South Wales (19%), Queensland (18%), Tasmania (22%), the Northern Territory (43%) and the Australian Capital Territory (27%). In South Australia and Victoria, Sexual assault and related offences were the most common sentenced offences, accounting for 17% of prisoners in each state. In Western Australia, the most common offence for sentenced prisoners was Illicit drug offences (20%). (Table 23)
Of the 4,328 sentenced prisoners with Illicit drug offences, approximately two-thirds (69% or 2,985 prisoners) had an offence of Deal or traffic in illicit drugs. (Table 23)
Footnote(s): (a) For a definition of most serious offence, see Explanatory Notes paragraphs 84-86.
Source(s): Prisoners in Australia
The median aggregate sentence length for sentenced prisoners was highest in South Australia (4.4 years) and lowest in the Northern Territory (1.5 years). (Table 24)
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, 30 June 2017 and 30 June 2018.GIF)
, States and territories, 30 June 2018.GIF)
