IMPRISONMENT RATES

At 30 June 2009, the Northern Territory continued to have the highest imprisonment rate at 658 prisoners per 100,000 adult population. All states and territories except Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory recorded increased imprisonment rates in the 10 year period from 1999. Tasmania recorded the largest percentage increase in the imprisonment rate between 1999 and 2009, rising 45% (from 96 prisoners per 100,000 adult population to 140 prisoners per 100,000 adult population). This was followed by the Northern Territory increasing by 44% (from 456 to 658 prisoners per 100,000 adults) and South Australia increasing by 29% (from 120 to 155 prisoners per 100,000 adults). The Australian Capital Territory's imprisonment rate decreased by 8% between 1999 and 2009 (from 81 to 75 prisoners per 100,000 adults), followed by Queensland which decreased by 6% (from 179 to 168 prisoners per 100,000 adults).

Sex

Between 1999 and 2009 the female imprisonment rate increased in all states and territories. In the Northern Territory, the female imprisonment rate increased from 38 to 58 female prisoners per 100,000 adult females, while in Western Australia the rate increased from 33 to 41 female prisoners per 100,000 adult females. Tasmania recorded the highest proportional increase in the female imprisonment rate between 1999 and 2009, an increase of 111% (from 10 to 22 female prisoners per 100,000 adult female population).

Between 30 June 1999 and 30 June 2009 the imprisonment rate for males increased in all states and territories, except Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. The Northern Territory recorded the highest proportional change in male imprisonment rates, an increase of 46% (from 827 to 1,210 prisoners per 100,000 adult males). Male imprisonment rates increased by 41% in Tasmania (from 187 to 264 prisoners per 100,000 adult males) and 27% in South Australia (from 234 to 298 prisoners per 100,000 adult males). The Australian Capital Territory recorded a proportional decrease in male imprisonment rates of 12% (from 153 to 135 prisoners per 100,000 adult males) while Queensland recorded an 8% decrease (from 341 to 314 prisoners per 100,000 adult males).

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