4517.0 - Prisoners in Australia, 2018 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 06/12/2018   
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UNSENTENCED PRISONERS

At 30 June 2018:
  • There were 13,856 unsentenced prisoners in Australian prisons, an increase of 7% (945 prisoners) from 30 June 2017. (Table 2)
  • The largest increase in unsentenced prisoners was seen in Victoria, which increased 485 prisoners (22%) from 30 June 2017. The proportion of unsentenced prisoners of total prisoners in Victoria increased from 31% to 35%. (Table 14 and historical data)

Graph Image for UNSENTENCED PRISONERS, 30 June 2008 to 30 June 2018

Source(s): Prisoners in Australia


  • The proportion of unsentenced prisoners to total prisoners varied from 28% in Western Australia to 38% in the Australian Capital Territory. (Table 14)

Graph Image for PROPORTION OF UNSENTENCED PRISONERS, States and territories, 30 June 2017 and 30 June 2018

Source(s): Prisoners in Australia


  • The most common charges for unsentenced prisoners were:
    • Acts intended to cause injury (32%);
    • Illicit drug offences (18%); and
    • Sexual assault and related offences (10%). (Table 1)

Graph Image for UNSENTENCED PRISONERS, Most serious charge(a), 30 June 2018

Footnote(s): a) For a definition of most serious charge see Explanatory Notes paragraph 86. (b) Includes divisions 1, 4-5, 8-9 and 11-16 of the ANZSOC and prisoners whose offence was unknown.

Source(s): Prisoners in Australia

  • At 30 June 2018, median time on remand for unsentenced prisoners was 3.2 months, down from 3.3 months at 30 June 2017. The median time spent on remand was longest in New South Wales (3.8 months) and shortest in Tasmania (1.5 months). (Table 32 and historical data)