Corrective Services, Australia
National and state information about adult prisoners and community-based corrections, including legal status, custody type, Indigenous status and sex.
Key statistics
- 44,316 persons were in custody in the September quarter 2024, up 1% (265 persons) since the June quarter 2024
- There were 17,856 unsentenced prisoners, up 1% (231 persons) for the quarter
- There were 81,958 persons serving community-based corrections (CBC) orders, up 1% (971 persons) for September quarter 2024
Persons in custody
There were 44,316 (average daily number) prisoners, up:
- 1% from 44,051 in the June quarter 2024
- 5% from 42,215 in the September quarter 2023
Average number of persons in custody(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024
Imprisonment rates
The imprisonment rate was 208 persons per 100,000 adult population:
- stable since June quarter 2024
- up from 204 persons in September quarter 2023
Average daily imprisonment rate(a), By states and territories, Sep 2023, Jun 2024 and Sep 2024
Sex
Of all prisoners:
- 92% (40,897) were male
- 8% (3,420) were female
The imprisonment rate for male prisoners was 390 persons per 100,000 adult male population, stable since last quarter.
The imprisonment rate for female prisoners was 32 persons per 100,000 adult female population, stable since last quarter.
Type of custody
Of all prisoners:
- 84% (37,272) were in secure custody
- 16% (7,044) were in open custody
Legal status
26,359 (59%) of the 44,306 prisoners (first day of the month) were sentenced, up from:
- 26,195 in the June quarter 2024
- 25,913 in the September quarter 2023
17,856 (40%) of the 44,306 prisoners (first day of the month) were unsentenced, up from:
- 17,625 in the June quarter 2024
- 16,182 in the September quarter 2023
Average number of unsentenced prisoners(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons in custody
There were 15,711 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners, up from:
- 15,424 in the June quarter 2024
- 14,183 in the September quarter 2023
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rates
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate was 2,701 persons per 100,000 adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, up from:
- 2,651 in the June quarter 2024
- 2,500 in the September quarter 2023
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate for male prisoners was 4,930 persons per 100,000 adult male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, up from 4,816 persons last quarter.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate for female prisoners was 530 persons per 100,000 adult female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, down from 544 persons last quarter.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate(a), By states and territories, Sep 2023, Jun 2024 and Sep 2024
Federal sentenced persons in custody
There were 1,163 federal sentenced prisoners:
- up from 1,140 in the June quarter 2024
- down from 1,170 in the September quarter 2023
Prisoner receptions
The total number of prisoner receptions was 18,093, up from:
- 17,854 in the June quarter 2024
- 17,200 in the September quarter 2023
Number of prisoner receptions(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024
Prisoner releases
The total number of prisoner releases was 18,320, up from:
- 17,093 in the June quarter 2024
- 16,779 in the September quarter 2023
Number of prisoner releases(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024
Community-based corrections
Persons in community-based corrections
There were 81,958 persons serving CBC orders, up from:
- 80,987 in the June quarter 2024
- 81,348 in the September quarter 2023
Average number of persons in community-based corrections(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024
Rates for persons in community-based corrections
The rate of persons serving CBC orders was 384 persons per 100,000 adult population:
- up from 382 in the June quarter 2024
- down from 393 in the September quarter 2023
Community-based corrections rate(a), By states and territories, Sep 2023, Jun 2024 and Sep 2024
Sex
Of all persons serving CBC orders:
- 80% (65,823) were male
- 20% (16,102) were female
The rate for male persons serving CBC orders was 628 persons per 100,000 adult male population, up from 624 persons last quarter.
The rate for female persons serving CBC orders was 149 persons per 100,000 adult female population, up from 148 persons last quarter.
Type of community-based corrections orders
There were 57,238 Sentenced probation orders, up from:
- 56,527 in the June quarter 2024
- 56,725 in the September quarter 2023
Average number of Sentenced probation orders(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024
There were 17,395 Parole orders:
- up from 17,097 in the June quarter 2024
- down from 17,413 in the September quarter 2023
Average number of Parole orders(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024
There were 12,887 Community service orders, up from:
- 12,843 in the June quarter 2024
- 12,881 in the September quarter 2023
Average number of Community services orders(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving community-based corrections orders
There were 21,701 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving CBC orders, up from:
- 21,106 in the June quarter 2024
- 20,186 in the September quarter 2023
Average number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons in community-based corrections(a), Sep 2019 to Sep 2024
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons serving community-based corrections orders, type of orders
There were 14,875 Sentenced probation orders, up from:
- 14,441 in the June quarter 2024
- 13,763 in the September quarter 2023
There were 5,110 Parole orders, up from:
- 4,934 in the June quarter 2024
- 4,726 in the September quarter 2023
There were 3,023 Community service orders:
- up from 3,015 in the June quarter 2024
- down from 3,034 in the September quarter 2023