Prisoners in Australia

From 30 June 2021 to 30 June 2022, total prisoners decreased by 6% (754) to 12,372.  This was the largest numerical decrease for any of the states and territories.  The largest decreases by most serious offence/charge were:

• Acts intended to cause injury, down 4% (132)
• Illicit drug offences, down 6% (127)
• Robbery, extortion and related offences, down 18% (120)

The imprisonment rate decreased by 5%, from 206 to 195 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners decreased by 6% (701) to 11,558.  Female prisoners decreased by 6% (48) to 820.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners were stable (up 9) at 3,606:

• Unlawful entry with intent, down 15% (43)
• Acts intended to cause injury, up 3% (41)
• Sexual assault and related offences, up 9% (37)

Sentenced prisoners decreased by 10% (822) to 7,732:

• Acts intended to cause injury, down 13% (223)
• Robbery, extortion, and related offences, down 26% (119)
• Illicit drug offences, down 9% (104)

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 2% (72) to 4,646:

• Acts intended to cause injury, up 5% (85)
• Sexual assault and related offences, up 7% (47)
• Prohibited and regulated weapons and explosives offences, down 19% (23)

Prisoners with prior imprisonment decreased by 2% (173) to 6,889.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment decreased by 9% (563) to 5,488.

From 30 June 2021 to 30 June 2022, total prisoners decreased by 9% (679) to 6,569. This was the largest proportional decrease for any of the states and territories.  The largest decreases by most serious offence/charge were:

• Illicit drug offences, down 15% (160)
• Unlawful entry with intent, down 20% (145)
• Acts intended to cause injury, down 7% (116)

The imprisonment rate decreased by 9%, from 139 to 127 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners decreased by 9% (619) to 6,218.  Female prisoners decreased by 17% (68) to 341.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners decreased by 10% (73) to 695:

• Acts intended to cause injury, down 15% (36)
• Unlawful entry with intent, down 21% (22)
• Theft and related offences, down 30% (13).

Sentenced prisoners decreased by 6% (263) to 3,798:

• Unlawful entry with intent, down 20% (94)
• Robbery, extortion and related offences, down 25% (66)
• Illicit drug offences, down 9% (50)

Unsentenced prisoners decreased by 13% (420) to 2,763:

• Illicit drug offences, down 24% (123)
• Acts intended to cause injury, down 9% (95)
• Theft and related offences, down 33% (65)

Prisoners with prior imprisonment decreased by 9% (337) to 3,489.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment decreased by 10% (347) to 3,072.

From 30 June 2021 to 30 June 2022, total prisoners decreased by 6% (576) to 9,376.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence/charge:

• Illicit drug offences, down 19% (276)
• Sexual assault and related offences, up 10% (124)
• Unlawful entry with intent, down 11% (110)

The imprisonment rate decreased by 8%, from 248 to 229 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners decreased by 6% (505) to 8,523.  Female prisoners decreased by 8% (78) to 850.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners decreased by 2% (69) to 3,410:

• Offences against justice, down 21% (71)
• Robbery, extortion, and related offences, up 10% (34)
• Sexual assault and related offences, up 8% (26)

Sentenced prisoners decreased by 10% (711) to 6,161:

• Illicit drug offences, down 17% (190)
• Unlawful entry with intent, down 17% (154)
• Robbery, extortion and related offences, down 18% (123)

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 4% (123) to 3,153:

• Sexual assault and related offences, up 29% (91)
• Illicit drug offences, down 24% (87)
• Robbery, extortion and related offences, up 32% (65)

Prisoners with prior imprisonment decreased by 6% (414) to 6,383.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment decreased by 5% (167) to 2,990.

From 30 June 2021 to 30 June 2022, total prisoners decreased by 2% (56) to 3,049.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence/charge:

• Illicit drug offences, down 29% (107)
• Theft and related offences, up 111% (101)
• Robbery, extortion and related offences, down 30% (61)

The imprisonment rate decreased by 4%, from 221 to 212 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners decreased by 1% (30) to 2,839.  Female prisoners decreased by 12% (30) to 213.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners were stable (down 1) at 743:

• Robbery, extortion, and related offences, down 33% (27)
• Acts intended to cause injury, up 11% (26)
• Theft and related offences, up 76% (25)

Sentenced prisoners decreased by 2% (34) to 1,680:

• Offences against justice, down 31% (65)
• Sexual assault and related offences, up 12% (49)
• Theft and related offences, up 70% (30)

Unsentenced prisoners decreased by 1% (down 9) at 1,375:

• Illicit drug offences, down 61% (114)
• Theft and related offences, up 132% (66)
• Offences against justice, up 37% (60)

Prisoners with prior imprisonment decreased by 7% (115) to 1,620.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment increased by 4% (57) to 1,428.

From 30 June 2021 to 30 June 2022, total prisoners decreased by 7% (440) to 6,276.  The largest decreases by most serious offence/charge were:

• Illicit drug offences, down 10% (123)
• Acts intended to cause injury, down 6% (91)
• Dangerous/negligent acts, down 20% (83)

The imprisonment rate decreased by 10%, from 326 to 293 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners decreased by 6% (367) to 5,712.  Female prisoners decreased by 12% (80) to 561.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners decreased by 5% (143) to 2,521:

• Acts intended to cause injury, down 7% (62)
• Unlawful entry with intent, down 6% (32)
• Robbery, extortion, and related offences, down 8% (30)

Sentenced prisoners decreased by 6% (260) to 4,372:

• Unlawful entry with intent, down 11% (77)
• Acts intended to cause injury, down 8% (64)
• Dangerous or negligent acts endangering person, down 16% (48)

Unsentenced prisoners decreased by 8% (170) to 1,883:

• Illicit drug offences, down 25% (82)
• Robbery, extortion, and related offences, down 16% (39)
• Unlawful entry with intent, up 18% (36)

Prisoners with prior imprisonment decreased by 9% (371) to 3,880.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment decreased 3% (68) to 2,398.

From 30 June 2021 to 30 June 2022, total prisoners decreased by 2% (12) to 630.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence/charge:

• Acts intended to cause injury, up 10% (15)
• Robbery, extortion and related offences, down 13% (7)

The imprisonment rate decreased by 8%, from 149 to 138 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners were stable (down 2) to 585.  Female prisoners decreased by 20% (11) to 43.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners decreased by 6% (9) to 143.

Sentenced prisoners decreased by 6% (25) to 416:

• Robbery, extortion, and related offences, down 33% (15)
• Homicide and related offences, down 21% (12)

Unsentenced prisoners increased 6% (12) to 207, those with a most serious charge of Acts intended to cause injury, increased 18% (12).

Prisoners with prior imprisonment decreased by 1% (5) to 424.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment decreased by 4% (8) to 205.

From 30 June 2021 to 30 June 2022, total prisoners increased by 8% (135) to 1,934. This was the largest numeric and percentage increase of any of the states and territories. The largest increases by most serious offence/charge were:

• Acts intended to cause injury, up 12% (105)
• Unlawful entry with intent, up 47% (24)

The imprisonment rate increased by 6%, from 971 to 1,027 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 8% (140) to 1,816.  Female prisoners decreased by 12% (15) to 114.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners increased by 9% (143) to 1,683:

• Acts intended to cause injury, up 14% (114)
• Unlawful entry with intent, up 31% (17)

Sentenced prisoners increased by 7% (83) to 1,246:

• Acts intended to cause injury, up 11% (59)
• Unlawful entry with intent, up 70% (21)

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 9% (55) to 692:

• Acts intended to cause injury, up 12% (44)
• Robbery, extortion and related offences, up 44% (12)

Prisoners with prior imprisonment increased by 8% (111) to 1,438.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment increased by 6% (28) to 499.

From 30 June 2021 to 30 June 2022, total prisoners increased by 1% (2) to 381.  There were both increases and decreases by most serious offence/charge:

• Offences against justice, down 48% (46)
• Acts intended to cause injury, up 33% (26)

The imprisonment rate decreased by 6%, from 113 to 107 prisoners per 100,000 adult population.

Male prisoners increased by 2% (6) to 360.  Female prisoners were stable at 21.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners decreased by 2% (2) to 96. There were increases and decreases by most serious offence/charge:

• Offences against justice, down 46% (12)
• Acts intended to cause injury, up 37% (10)

Sentenced prisoners decreased by 9% (23) to 225:

• Offences against justice, down 52% (38)
• Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences, down 100% (18)

Unsentenced prisoners increased by 21% (27) to 156, those with a most serious charge of Acts intended to cause injury increased by 33% (14).

Prisoners with prior imprisonment were stable at 294.  Prisoners without prior imprisonment decreased by 3% (2) to 78.