Prisoners in Australia

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Contains annual national information on prisoners in custody at 30 June, including demographic information, imprisonment rates, most serious offence.

Reference period
2021
Released
9/12/2021

Key statistics

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, Australian prisoners increased by 5% (1,910) to 42,970.  The imprisonment rate also increased by 5% from 205 to 214 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

There have been various government restrictions implemented across states and territories as a result of COVID-19 since March 2020. These restrictions may have had an impact on criminal activity and the justice system.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021:

  • Sentenced prisoners decreased by 1% (169) to 27,680. Conversely, unsentenced prisoners increased by 16% (2,085) to 15,182
  • Male prisoners increased by 5% (1,772) to 39,680.  Female prisoners also increased by 5% (148) to 3,292

Prisoners with prior adult imprisonment increased by 5% (1,310) to 25,723.  Prisoners without prior adult imprisonment increased by 4% (599) to 17,227

There were increases in total prisoners in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory; and decreases in Western Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

Prisoner characteristics, Australia

Sex

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, male prisoners increased by 5% (1,772) to 39,680:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 14% (1,204)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 6% (361)
  • Illicit drug offences, up 4% (198)

Female prisoners increased by 5% (148) to 3,292:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 16% (99)
  • Unlawful entry with intent, up 14% (39)

Age

As at 30 June 2021, the median age was:

  • 35.6 years for all prisoners
  • 35.7 years for males
  • 34.9 years for females
  • Highest at 44.5 years for Sexual assault and related offences
  • Lowest at 30.2 years for Robbery, extortion and related offences

Country of birth

As at 30 June 2021, four in every five prisoners were born in Australia (82% or 35,275 prisoners).  Prisoners born overseas accounted for 6,757 prisoners.

The most common countries of birth for prisoners born overseas were:

  • New Zealand (3% of total prisoners or 1,155)
  • Vietnam (2% or 712)
  • The United Kingdom (1% or 606)

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, the number of prisoners born overseas with a most serious offence or charge of Illicit drug offences decreased by 5% (107).  The proportion of prisoners born overseas with these offences or charges decreased from 31% to 29%.

Legal Status

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, sentenced prisoners decreased by 1% (169) to 27,680.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 6% (285)
  • Unlawful entry with intent, down 8% (240)
  • Dangerous or negligent acts endangering persons, down 9% (104)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 2% (103)
  • Theft and related offences, down 10% (83)

Over the same period, unsentenced prisoners increased by 16% (2,085) to 15,182:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 23% (1,018)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 21% (288)
  • Illicit drug offences, up 10% (206)
  • Dangerous or negligent acts endangering persons, up 34% (167)

The proportion of prisoners who were unsentenced increased from 32% to 35%.

Most serious offence/charge

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, prisoners increased by 5% (1,910) to 42,970:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 14% (1,308)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 7% (389)
  • Illicit drug offences, up 3% (201)
  • Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences, up 25% (96)

Over the same period, the largest decreases were for:

  • Unlawful entry with intent, down 4% (169)
  • Robbery, extortion and related offences, down 3% (104)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 8% (947) to 13,039:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 17% (685)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 9% (105)

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate increased by 5% from 2,294 to 2,412 prisoners per 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population.

At 30 June 2021:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners made up 30% of all prisoners
  • Male prisoners made up 90% (11,781) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners
  • Female prisoners made up 10% (1,260)
  • The median age was 32.8 years
  • 78% had experienced prior adult imprisonment

State/territory

New South Wales

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, total prisoners increased by 3% (396) to 13,126.  This was the second largest annual numerical increase for any of the states and territories.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence/charge:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 12% (368)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 5% (102)
  • Unlawful entry with intent, down 11% (84)
  • Offences against justice, down 6% (77)

The imprisonment rate increased by 3%, up from 200 to 206 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 3% (366) to 12,259.  Female prisoners increased by 4% (32) to 868.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 8% (262) to 3,597:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 14% (163)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 13% (41)

Sentenced prisoners decreased by less than 1% (32) to 8,554.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 9% (149)
  • Unlawful entry with intent, down 20% (109)
  • Offences against justice, down 6% (79)
  • Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences, up 87% (67)

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 10% (426) to 4,574:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 15% (223)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 19% (103).

Prisoners with prior imprisonment increased by 3% (232) to 7,062.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment also increased by 3% (155) to 6,051.

Victoria

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, total prisoners increased by 1% (99) to 7,248.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence/charge:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 15% (207)
  • Robbery, extortion and related offences, down 18% (87)
  • Unlawful entry with intent, down 5% (39)

The imprisonment rate increased by 2%, up from 136 to 139 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 1% (89) to 6,837.  Female prisoners increased by 2% (8) to 409.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 6% (46) to 768.

Sentenced prisoners decreased by 13% (603) to 4,061:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, down 16% (114)
  • Robbery, extortion and related offences, down 22% (75)
  • Unlawful entry with intent, down 12% (64)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, down 7% (60)

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 28% (704) to 3,183:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 45% (320)
  • Dangerous or negligent acts endangering persons, up 44% (61)
  • Illicit drug offences, up 14% (61)

Prisoners with prior imprisonment increased by 6% (200) to 3,826.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment decreased by 3% (102) to 3,419.

Queensland

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, total prisoners increased by 15% (1,295) to 9,952.  This was the largest annual increase, both numerically and proportionally, of any of the states and territories.  The largest increases by most serious offence/charge were:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 25% (496)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 16% (163)
  • Illicit drug offences, up 12% (155)
  • Offences against justice, up 24% (124)

The imprisonment rate increased by 14%, up from 218 to 248 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 14% (1,134) to 9,028.  Female prisoners increased by 21% (162) to 928.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 15% (441) to 3,479.  Acts intended to cause injury made up over half of this increase, up 23% (235).

Sentenced prisoners increased by 13% (801) to 6,872.  Unsentenced prisoners increased by 20% (496) to 3,030.

Prisoners with prior imprisonment increased by 14% (838) to 6,797.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment increased by 17% (461) to 3,157.

South Australia

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, total prisoners increased by 4% (119) to 3,105.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence/charge:

  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 16% (68)
  • Offences against justice, down 14% (59)
  • Illicit drug offences, up 15% (48)

The imprisonment rate increased by 4%, up from 214 to 221 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 4% (111) to 2,869.  Female prisoners increased by 3% (8) to 243.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 6% (43) to 744.

Sentenced prisoners decreased by less than 1% (7) to 1,714.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence:

  • Unlawful entry with intent, down 20% (41)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 13% (41)
  • Acts intended to cause injury, down 13% (33)

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 11% (135) to 1,384.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious charge:

  • Offences against justice, down 32% (77)
  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 15% (58)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 40% (38)

Prisoners with prior imprisonment increased by 2% (37) to 1,735.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment increased by 6% (79) to 1,371.

Western Australia

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, total prisoners decreased for the second successive year, down by 1% (54) to 6,716.   This decrease was driven by:

  • Unlawful entry with intent, down 5% (48)
  • Dangerous or negligent acts endangering persons, down 10% (46)
  • Illicit drug offences, down 2% (31)

The imprisonment rate decreased by 1%, down from 330 to 326 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by less than 1% (24) to 6,079.  Female prisoners decreased by 10% (75) to 641.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners were relatively stable since last year at 2,664 prisoners.

Sentenced prisoners decreased by 5% (267) to 4,632:

  • Unlawful entry with intent, down 9% (70)
  • Dangerous or negligent acts endangering person, down 16% (59)
  • Illicit drug offences, down 4% (41)

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 12% (212) to 2,053:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 11% (65)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 24% (44)

Prisoners with prior imprisonment decreased by 1% (48) to 4,251.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment were relatively stable at 2,466.

Tasmania

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, total prisoners decreased for the second successive year, down by 4% (26) to 642.  This decrease was driven by:

  • Robbery, extortion and related offences, down 23% (17)
  • Acts intended to cause injury, down 7% (12)
  • Dangerous or negligent acts endangering persons, down 29% (10)

The imprisonment rate decreased by 4%, down from 156 to 149 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners decreased by 4% (23) to 587.  Female prisoners decreased by 8% (5) to 54.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners accounted for 152 prisoners (24% of all prisoners).

Sentenced prisoners decreased by 6% (26) to 441.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence:

  • Offences against justice, up 159% (35)
  • Acts intended to cause injury, down 21% (22)

Unsentenced prisoners remained relatively steady since last year at 195.

Prisoners with prior imprisonment decreased by 3% (15) to 429.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment decreased by 7% (16) to 213.

Northern Territory

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, total prisoners increased by 10% (165) to 1,799.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence/charge:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, up 29% (199)
  • Sexual assault and related offences, up 11% (21)
  • Offences against justice, down 10% (20)

The imprisonment rate increased by 9%, up from 887 to 971 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 9% (138) to 1,676.   Female prisoners increased by 37% (35) to 129.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 12% (169) to 1,540.

Sentenced prisoners increased by 1% (11) to 1,163.  Unsentenced prisoners increased by 32% (153) to 637.

Prisoners with prior imprisonment increased by 10% (117) to 1,327.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment increased by 11% (45) to 471.

Australian Capital Territory

(a) For a definition of most serious offence/charge, see Methodology, Most serious offence/charge section.

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, total prisoners decreased for the third successive year, down by 16% (70) to 379.  This was the largest annual decrease, both numerically and proportionally for any of the states and territories.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence/charge:

  • Acts intended to cause injury, down 40% (53)
  • Offences against justice, up 44% (29)
  • Robbery, extortion and related offences, down 50% (24)

The imprisonment rate decreased by 16%, down from 135 to 113 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners decreased by 14% (59) to 354.  Female prisoners decreased by 46% (18) to 21.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners decreased by 16% (18) to 98.

Sentenced prisoners decreased by 12% (33) to 248.  Unsentenced prisoners decreased by 22% (37) to 129.

Prisoners with prior imprisonment decreased by 16% (55) to 294.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment decreased by 21% (21) to 80.

Federal Offender characteristics

From 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, federal prisoners nationally decreased by 2% (27) to 1,466.

At 30 June 2021, compared to the total prisoner population, federal prisoners:

  • Had a higher proportion of prisoners in New South Wales (48% compared to 31%) and Victoria (28% compared to 17%)
  • Had a lower proportion of prisoners in Queensland (10% compared to 23%) and Western Australia (10% compared to 16%)

On average federal prisoners were older than the total prisoner population with a median age of 39 years compared to 36 years.

Data downloads

Prisoners in Australia data cubes

Data files

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 4517.0.

Post-release changes

13 April 2022: New information has been released on statistics about federal offenders (prisoners and parolees) under the authority of corrective services agencies at 30 June 2021.

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