Prisoners on remand up 13% in 2024
The number of adult prisoners on remand in Australia increased by 13 per cent between 2023 and 2024, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Samantha Hall, ABS head of crime and justice statistics, said: “The number of prisoners on remand rose to 18,036 people in 2024. That’s 41 per cent of all prisoners, up from 38 per cent in 2023.”
Sentenced prisoners increased by 2 per cent to 26,281. The total number of adult prisoners in Australia grew by 6 per cent to 44,403 prisoners.
Prisoner numbers rose for nearly all offence types, including assaults (up 9 per cent or 1,043 prisoners), sexual assaults (up 8 per cent or 531 prisoners), and offences against justice (up 10 per cent or 309 prisoners).
More than nine in ten prisoners were male (92%) and three in five had an episode of prior adult imprisonment (60%).
Further information, including state and territory data, can be found in Prisoners in Australia, 2024, available for free download from the ABS website: http://www.abs.gov.au
Media notes
- Offence refers to the most serious offence or charge as defined in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC).
- Prisoners on remand are awaiting the outcome of their court hearing. They are referred to as unsentenced prisoners in the publication.
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