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
June Quarter 2024
Released
19/09/2024
  • Next Release 28/11/2024
    Corrective Services, Australia, September Quarter 2024
  • Next Release 13/03/2025
    Corrective Services, Australia, December Quarter 2024
  • View all releases

Key statistics

  • 44,051 persons were in custody in the June quarter 2024, up 2% (746 persons) since the March quarter 2024
  • There were 17,625 unsentenced prisoners, up 4% (722 persons) for the quarter
  • There were 80,987 persons serving community-based corrections (CBC) orders, for June quarter 2024

Persons in custody

There were 44,051 (average daily number) prisoners, up:

  • 2% from 43,305 in the March quarter 2024
  • 4% from 42,204 in the June quarter 2023

(a) Based on average daily number.

Imprisonment rates

The imprisonment rate was 208 persons per 100,000 adult population, up from 206 persons in the March quarter 2024 and June quarter 2023.

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

Sex

Of all prisoners:

  • 92% (40,578) were male
  • 8% (3,473) were female

The imprisonment rate for male prisoners was 390 persons per 100,000 adult male population, up from 387 persons last quarter.

The imprisonment rate for female prisoners was 32 persons per 100,000 adult female population, up from 31 persons last quarter.

Type of custody

Of all prisoners:

  • 84% (37,137) were in secure custody
  • 16% (6,913) were in open custody

Legal status

26,195 (60%) of the 43,910 prisoners (first day of the month) were sentenced, up from:

  • 26,020 in the March quarter 2024
  • 25,788 in the June quarter 2023

17,625 (40%) of the 43,910 prisoners (first day of the month) were unsentenced, up from:

  • 16,903 in the March quarter 2024
  • 16,348 in the June quarter 2023

 

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

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons in custody

There were 15,424 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners, up from:

  • 15,070 in the March quarter 2024
  • 14,011 in the June quarter 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rates

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate was 2,651 persons per 100,000 adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, up from:

  • 2,591 in the March quarter 2024
  • 2,470 in the June quarter 2023

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate for male prisoners was 4,816 persons per 100,000 adult male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, up from 4,733 persons last quarter.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate for female prisoners was 544 persons per 100,000 adult female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, up from 504 persons last quarter.

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

Federal sentenced persons in custody

There were 1,140 federal sentenced prisoners, up from:

  • 1,124 in the March quarter 2024
  • 1,130 in the June quarter 2023

Prisoner receptions

The total number of prisoner receptions was 17,739:

  • down from 18,030 in the March quarter 2024
  • up from 16,504 in the June quarter 2023

(a) Total number of prisoner receptions.

Prisoner releases

The total number of prisoner releases was 17,093, up from:

  • 16,709 in the March quarter 2024
  • 16,511 in the June quarter 2023

(a) Total number of prisoner releases.

Community-based corrections

Persons in community-based corrections

There were 80,987 persons serving CBC orders:

  • down from 81,081 in the March quarter 2024
  • up from 79,984 in the June quarter 2023

(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 382 persons per 100,000 adult population, down from: 

  • 385 in the March quarter 2024
  • 389 in the June quarter 2023

(a) Rate per 100,000 adult persons for the state/territory of interest.

Sex

Of all persons serving CBC orders:

  • 80% (65,015) were male
  • 20% (15,943) were female

The rate for male persons serving CBC orders was 624 persons per 100,000 adult male population, down from 630 persons last quarter.

The rate for female persons serving CBC orders was 148 persons per 100,000 adult female population, stable since last quarter.

Type of community-based corrections orders

There were 56,527 Sentenced probation orders:

  • down from 56,622 in the March quarter 2024
  • up from 55,618 in the June quarter 2023

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

There were 17,097 Parole orders, down from:

  • 17,214 in the March quarter 2024
  • 17,317 in the June quarter 2023

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

There were 12,843 Community service orders:

  • down from 12,856 in the March quarter 2024
  • up from 12,571 in the June quarter 2023

(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 21,106 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving CBC orders, up from:

  • 20,790 in the March quarter 2024
  • 19,561 in the June quarter 2023

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

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

There were 14,441 Sentenced probation orders, up from: 

  • 14,223 in the March quarter 2024
  • 13,350 in the June quarter 2023

There were 4,934 Parole orders, up from:

  • 4,854 in the March quarter 2024
  • 4,577 in the June quarter 2023

There were 3,015 Community service orders: 

  • down from 3,038 in the March quarter 2024
  • up from 2,885 in the June quarter 2023

Data downloads

Corrective Services datacubes

Data files

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 4512.0.

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

A new table detailing Community-based correction order types for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons has been introduced. 

Imprisonment rates by type of custody table, has been removed.

Due to these changes, some tables have been re-numbered.

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