NSW Custody Statistics Quarterly update December 2017

NSW Custody Statistics: Quarterly Update December 2017

NSW adult prison population growth slowing

Full report - NSW Custody Statistics: Quarterly update December 2017 (PDF, 1.3 MB) 

Embargo: 10:30am, Tuesday 30 January 2018

New figures released today by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) show that the NSW prison population grew by just 0.7 per cent in the last 12 months. In December 2017, the NSW prison adult population stood at 12,989.

The comparative stability of the NSW adult prison population during 2017 stands in marked contrast to the rapid growth in prisoner numbers over the last few years. Between December 2011 and December 2016, the State's prison population grew by 33 per cent (an additional 3,150 prisoners).

BOCSAR expects little growth in the imprisonment rate over the next 12 months. Over the last 12 months, prison receptions declined by 2.8 per cent while prison discharges grew by 12 per cent. At the current low rate of growth the State's prison population is expected to reach 13,244 by December next year.

Commenting on the findings the Executive Director of BOCSAR, Dr Don Weatherburn, said that the NSW prison population would have continued to increase but for a large increase in the number of offenders released on parole.

"Between 2014 and 2017, the average monthly number of offenders released on parole increased by 35 per cent, from 504 to 682 offenders"

The increase in offenders released on parole offset the rapid growth over the same period in the average monthly number of new prisoner receptions (up 20 per cent, from 1,298 to 1,552).

Further enquiries: Dr Don Weatherburn 02 8346 1100
Copies of the report: www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au