4512.0 - Corrective Services, Australia, Sep 2011 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/11/2011   
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SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


PERSONS IN CORRECTIVE SERVICES

Based on first day of the month averages, for the September quarter 2011 there were 29,041 persons in full-time custody and 54,545 persons in community-based corrections. This represents a decrease of 1,883 persons (2%) from the September quarter 2010. Over the same period, persons in full-time custody increased by 117 persons (less than 1%) and persons in community-based corrections decreased by 2,001 persons (4%).


Number of prisoners

During the September quarter 2011, the average daily number of full-time prisoners in Australia was 29,008 persons. This was an increase of 99 persons (less than 1%) from the June quarter 2011.

PERSONS IN PRISON CUSTODY, Average daily number per month
Graph: Persons in prison custody, average daily number per month



Number of persons in community-based corrections

Community-based corrections orders are non-custodial orders served under the authority of adult corrective services agencies and include restricted movement, reparations (fine options and community service) and supervision orders (parole, bail, and sentenced probation). In the September quarter 2011, there were 54,545 persons in community-based corrections in Australia based on first day of the month averages, a decrease of 64 persons (less than 1%) from the June quarter 2011.

PERSONS IN COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS, Average number on the first day of the month
Graph: PERSONS IN COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS, Average number on the first day of the month



PERSONS IN CUSTODY

Rates per 100,000 adults

Nationally, the September quarter 2011 average daily imprisonment rate was 166 prisoners per 100,000 adult population, a decrease of 1% from the September quarter 2010. The Northern Territory had the highest imprisonment rate (750 prisoners per 100,000 adult population), followed by Western Australia (260) and New South Wales (176).

The Australian Capital Territory and Victoria had the lowest imprisonment rates (84 and 109 prisoners per 100,000 adult population respectively).

The Northern Territory recorded the largest proportional increase in imprisonment rates from the September quarter 2010 (13%). The largest proportional decreases over the same period were recorded in New South Wales (4%), and Western Australia (3%).

AVERAGE DAILY IMPRISONMENT RATE(a), By states and territories
Graph: Average daily imprisonment rate, by state and territory



Sex

Of the average daily number of full-time prisoners in Australia in the September quarter 2011, 26,966 (93%) were male and 2,042 (7%) were female. The average daily imprisonment rate for males was 313 prisoners per 100,000 adult male population; 13 times more than the rate for females (23 female prisoners per 100,000 adult female population).


Type of full-time custody

The average daily number of prisoners in secure prison custody in the September quarter 2011 was 22,680 (78% of prisoners in full-time custody). Open prison custody comprised 6,329 prisoners (22%).

All prisoners in the Australian Capital Territory are in secure prison custody. Queensland and Tasmania had the next highest proportions of prisoners in secure custody (both 91%), followed by South Australia (90%) and Victoria (88%).


Legal status

The average number of prisoners in full-time custody on the first day of each month in the September quarter 2011 was 29,041, comprising an average of 22,251 (77%) sentenced and 6,790 (23%) unsentenced prisoners. Sentenced prisoners increased by 1% from the previous quarter and decreased by 1% from the September quarter 2010.

Unsentenced prisoners decreased by 2% from the previous quarter and increased by 5% from the September quarter 2010. The Australian Capital Territory and South Australia had the highest proportions of unsentenced prisoners (32% and 30% respectively). The lowest proportions of unsentenced prisoners were recorded in Western Australia (18%), Victoria (19%) and Tasmania (20%).

PROPORTION OF UNSENTENCED PERSONS IN PRISON CUSTODY (a), Per month
Graph: Unsentenced persons in prison custody, proportion per month



Sentenced prisoner receptions

There were 8,067 sentenced prisoner receptions into full-time custody in Australia in the September quarter 2011; an increase of 10% (726) from the June quarter 2011 and of 3% (247) from the September quarter 2010.


Periodic detention

Periodic detention is a form of custody or order where a sentenced prisoner is required to be held in custody on a part-time basis. This type of custody order is currently only used in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. This program has ceased in New South Wales from October 2010, but some prisoners are still undertaking pre-existing sentences.

During the September quarter 2011 there was an average daily number of 93 persons in New South Wales and 68 persons in the Australian Capital Territory held in periodic detention. The rate of imprisonment for periodic detainees decreased by 45% in New South Wales from the June quarter 2011 (from 2.9 per 100,000 to 1.6 per 100,000), and increased by 21% in the Australian Capital Territory (from 19.8 per 100,000 to 23.9 per 100,000).


Federal prisoners

In the September quarter 2011, there were 900 federal sentenced prisoners in Australia based on first day of the month figures, an increase of 12% from the September quarter 2010. Just under half (419) of the federal prisoners were sentenced in New South Wales.


Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners

The average daily number of full-time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult prisoners in Australia in the September quarter 2011 was 7,549, comprising 6,929 (92%) males and 620 (8%) females. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners represented 26% of the total full-time prisoner population in the September quarter 2011, the same proportion as for the June quarter 2011. The total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population aged 18 years and over at 30 June 2010 was 2% of the Australian population.

Approximately 75% of the total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoner population was located in the states of New South Wales (2,238), Western Australia (1,754) and Queensland (1,663) combined.

The national average daily Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate in the September quarter 2011 was 2,221 per 100,000 adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, a decrease of 1% from the previous quarter and of 2% from the September quarter 2010.

AVERAGE DAILY ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER IMPRISONMENT RATE(a), Per month
Graph: Average Daily Indigenous imprisonment rate, per month


Different age profiles of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous population can affect imprisonment rate numbers. While this quarterly statistical collection is unable to take age into account, data from the Prisoner Census collection can provide this level of detail.

The national age standardised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate from the annual Prisoner Census conducted at June 2010 was 14 times higher (1,892 per 100,000 adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population) than the rate for non-Indigenous persons (134 per 100,000 adult non-Indigenous population). Further information on the comparison of imprisonment rates between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous populations can be found in Prisoners in Australia, 2010 (cat. no. 4517.0).

The highest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate was recorded in Western Australia (3,772 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners per 100,000 adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population), followed by South Australia (2,572) and the Northern Territory (2,409). The lowest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate was recorded in Tasmania (575), followed by the Australian Capital Territory (1,137).

AVERAGE DAILY ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER IMPRISONMENT RATE(a), By states and territories
Graph: Average Daily Indigenous imprisonment rate, by state and territory


The largest proportional increase in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate from the September quarter 2010 was recorded in the Northern Territory (12%), followed by Victoria (3%). The Australian Capital Territory (9%) and Western Australia (6%) recorded the largest proportional decreases over the same period.


PERSONS IN COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS

Rates per 100,000 adults

Nationally, the rate of persons in community-based corrections was 312 persons per 100,000 adult population for the September quarter 2011 based on first day of the month figures. This was a decrease of 5% from the September quarter 2010 (328 persons per 100,000 adults). The largest decrease from the September quarter 2010 was recorded in Western Australia (14%), while the largest increase was recorded in Tasmania (14%).

COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS RATE(a), Per month
Graph: Community-based corrections rate, per month


COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS RATE(a), By states and territories
Graph: Community-based corrections rate, by state and territory



Sex

Of the average number of persons in community-based corrections in Australia in the September quarter 2011, 44,645 (82%) were male and 9,862 (18%) were female.

In the September quarter 2011, the rate of community-based corrections for males was 518 per 100,000 adult male population compared to 111 females per 100,000 adult female population. The community-based corrections rate for males was more than four times that of females.


Type of orders

In the September quarter 2011, there were 12,135 persons on parole following a period of imprisonment. Three states accounted for approximately 87% of persons serving parole orders: New South Wales (4,321 or 36%), Queensland (4,514 persons or 37%), and Victoria (1,668 or 14%). The largest proportional decrease in parole orders from the June quarter 2011 was recorded in the Northern Territory (18%).

For this same period, there were 32,783 persons under sentenced probation and 9,081 persons serving community service orders; a decrease in the number of persons under sentenced probation of 98 persons (less than 1%), and a decrease in the number of persons on community service orders of 221 persons (2%) from the June quarter 2011.


Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in community-based corrections

Based on first day of the month averages, the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in community-based corrections for the September quarter was 10,678; an increase of 1% (103 persons) from the previous quarter. The numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in community-based corrections increased from the June quarter by 12% (18) in the Australian Capital Territory and by 4% (28) in the Northern Territory. The largest proportional decreases were in Victoria (4% or 20) and Western Australia (1% or 13). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders represented 20% of the total number of persons in community-based corrections in the September quarter 2011.

Approximately 75% of the total Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-based corrections population was located in the states of New South Wales (3,196), Queensland (3,335) and Western Australia (1,498).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Community-Based Corrections, Number on first day of month
Graph: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Community-Based Corrections, Number on first day of month


Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, proportion of persons in Community-Based Corrections (a), Per month