NCJ Number
140847
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report presents data on the following basic indicators of imprisonment trends in Australia by jurisdiction for 1981-82 to 1990-91: total inmates (daily average), sentenced inmates on hand, remandees on the first day of the month, and sentenced prisoners received per month.
Abstract
Data on the daily average total prison population for each jurisdiction shows that only Tasmania has been able to reduce its prison population over the 10-year period, and even that reduction was marginal. Most jurisdictions had inmate-population increases of approximately one-third, but New South Wales and the Australian Commonwealth Territory increased 60 percent and 243 percent respectively. Average monthly receptions sometimes show different trends than prison population data. The year 1984-85 was the high point for Australia overall, largely due to the very high receptions in New South Wales that year. The trend lines then fell markedly to a low point in 1988-89. Reduction in the imprisonment of fine defaulters was the primary reason for this trend; yet because of their very short time served, the effect on prison populations was small. Since 1988-89, increased numbers of receptions in both New South Wales and Western Australia have brought the total figures upward again. Increases in remandee numbers have outstripped the overall inmate increases. Figures for Victoria and the Australian Commonwealth Territory have tripled in the 10- year period. 4 tables and 1 figure