Corrective Services, Australia

Latest release

National and state information about adult prisoners and community-based corrections, including legal status, custody type, Indigenous status and sex.

Reference period
September Quarter 2025
Released
27/11/2025
  • Next Release 4/03/2026
    Corrective Services, Australia, December Quarter 2025
  • Next Release 4/06/2026
    Corrective Services, Australia, March Quarter 2026
  • View all releases
Release date and time
27/11/2025 11:30am AEDT

Key statistics

In the September quarter 2025: 

  • there were 46,936 persons in custody, stable (up 17 persons) since the June quarter 2025 and up 6% (2,620 persons) from the September quarter 2024
  • sentenced prisoners increased by 2% (412 persons) from the June quarter 2025 to 27,234 persons
  • the imprisonment rate was 216 persons per 100,000 adult population, down from 217 persons in the June quarter 2025. 

Persons in custody

There were 46,936 prisoners (average daily number):

  • stable (up 17 persons) from 46,919 in the June quarter 2025
  • up 6% (2,620 persons) from 44,316 in the September quarter 2024. 

(a) Based on average daily number.

Imprisonment rates

The imprisonment rate was 216 persons per 100,000 adult population: 

  • down from 217 persons in the June quarter 2025
  • up from 208 persons in the September quarter 2024.

(a) Rate per 100,000 adult population. Based on average daily number.

Sex

Of all prisoners:

  • 92% (43,123) were male
  • 8% (3,811) were female.

The imprisonment rate for:

  • males was 404 per 100,000 adult male population, down from 406 last quarter
  • females was 35 per 100,000 adult female population, stable since last quarter.

 

Type of custody

Of all prisoners:

  • 85% (39,808) were in secure custody
  • 15% (7,128) were in open custody.

 

Legal status

27,234 (58%) of the 46,909 prisoners (first day of the month) were sentenced, up:

  • 2% from 26,822 in the June quarter 2025
  • 3% from 26,359 in the September quarter 2024.

19,578 (42%) of the 46,909 prisoners (first day of the month) were unsentenced:

  • down 1% from 19,864 in the June quarter 2025
  • up 10% from 17,856 in the September quarter 2024.

 

(a) Based on average number on the first day of the month.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons in custody

There were 17,148 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners:

  • stable (down 10 persons) from 17,158 in the June quarter 2025
  • up 9% (1,437 persons) from 15,711 in the September quarter 2024. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners accounted for 37% of all persons in custody.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rates

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate was 2,600 persons per 100,000 adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population:

  • down from 2,602 in the June quarter 2025
  • up from 2,445 in the September quarter 2024.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate for:

  • males was 4,717 per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult male population, up from 4,715 last quarter
  • females was 530 per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult female population, down from 535 last quarter.

(a) Rate per 100,000 adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. Based on average daily number.

Federal sentenced persons in custody

There were 1,272 federal sentenced prisoners, up:

  • 1% from 1,255 in the June quarter 2025
  • 9% from 1,163 in the September quarter 2024.

Prisoner receptions

The total number of prisoner receptions was 18,912, up:

  • slightly from 18,864 in the June quarter 2025
  • 5% from 18,093 in the September quarter 2024.

Prisoner releases

The total number of prisoner releases was 18,989, up:

  • 4% from 18,200 in the June quarter 2025
  • 4% from 18,320 in the September quarter 2024.

Community-based corrections

Persons in community-based corrections

There were 81,488 persons (first day of the month) serving community-based corrections (CBC) orders, down:

  • slightly from 81,591 in the June quarter 2025
  • 1% from 81,958 in the September quarter 2024.

(a) Based on average number on the first day of the month.

Rates for persons in community-based corrections

The rate of persons serving CBC orders was 375 persons per 100,000 adult population, down from: 

  • 378 in the June quarter 2025
  • 384 in the September quarter 2024.

(a) Rate per 100,000 adult population.

Sex

Of all persons serving CBC orders:

  • 81% (65,756) were male
  • 19% (15,695) were female.

The rate of persons serving CBC orders for: 

  • males was 616 per 100,000 adult male population, down from 620 last quarter
  • females was 142 per 100,000 adult female population, down from 144 last quarter.

 

Type of community-based corrections orders

There were 56,166 sentenced probation orders, down:

  • slightly from 56,241 in the June quarter 2025
  • 2% from 57,238 in the September quarter 2024.

(a) Based on average number on the first day of the month.

There were 18,099 parole orders, up:

  • 1% from 18,007 in the June quarter 2025
  • 4% from 17,395 in the September quarter 2024.

(a) Based on average number on the first day of the month.

There were 12,465 community service orders, down:

  • 2% from 12,767 in the June quarter 2025
  • 3% from 12,887 in the September quarter 2024.

(a) Based on average number on the first day of the month.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving community-based corrections orders

There were 22,289 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving CBC orders, up:

  • 1% from 21,995 in the June quarter 2025
  • 3% from 21,701 in the September quarter 2024.

(a) Based on average number on the first day of the month.

Rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons in community-based corrections

The rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving CBC orders was 3,380 persons per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population, up from: 

  • 3,335 in the June quarter 2025
  • 3,377 in the September quarter 2024.

The rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving CBC orders for: 

  • males was 5,073 per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult male population, up from 5,018 last quarter
  • females was 1,722 per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult female population, up from 1,689 last quarter.

(a) Rate per 100,000 adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving community-based corrections orders, type of orders

There were 15,151 sentenced probation orders, up:

  • 2% from 14,917 in the June quarter 2025
  • 2% from 14,875 in the September quarter 2024.

There were 5,568 parole orders, up:

  • 2% from 5,469 in the June quarter 2025
  • 9% from 5,110 in the September quarter 2024.

There were 2,736 community service orders, down:

  • 4% from 2,843 in the June quarter 2025
  • 9% from 3,023 in the September quarter 2024.

Data downloads

Corrective Services data cubes

Data files

Methodology

Scope

Persons held in adult corrective services custody or who are serving adult community-based orders in Australia during the reference period. Excludes persons unlawfully absent or in legal custody transferred to another agency.

Geography

Data available for:

  • Australia
  • States and territories

Source

Administrative records created and maintained by the state and territory corrective services agencies and Australian Government Attorney-General's Department.

Collection method

Administrative data collected quarterly from state and territory corrective services agencies and Australian Government Attorney-General's Department.

Concepts, sources and methods

Not applicable for this release. 

History of changes

Not applicable for this release. 

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