New prisoners decreased by 17% for the June Quarter 2020

Nationally, the total number of prisoners entering the prison system (prisoner receptions) decreased by 17 per cent (down 2,987) for the June quarter 2020 according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This was the lowest quarterly total receptions (14,624) since the beginning of the time series in the June quarter 2016.

ABS Director of the National Centre of Crime and Justice Statistics, William Milne, said that the national daily average number of prisoners also decreased by 5 per cent over this period to 41,784, the lowest prisoner population since 2017.

These decreases for the quarter may be due to various restrictions implemented across states and territories as a result of COVID-19 which may have had an impact on criminal activity.

“The number of people serving community-based corrections orders also decreased, down to 80,411 from 83,377 in the March quarter 2020.” Mr Milne said.

Further information, including state and territory data, can be found in Corrective Services, Australia, June Quarter 2020 (cat. no. 4512.0), available for free download from the ABS website: http://www.abs.gov.au.