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Release date: Thursday 14 May 2026
Summer surge drives NSW prison population to record high
The adult prison population in NSW reached a record high in March 2026, following a sharp increase over the summer period.
In March 2026 there were 14,070 adults in custody, the highest number ever recorded. This reflects a rapid rise of 1,064 inmates (up 8.2%) between November 2025 and March 2026, representing one of the fastest increases in recent decades.
“We’re looking at an extraordinarily sharp rise in the prison population over a relatively short period,” said Jackie Fitzgerald, Executive Director of BOCSAR. “Prison numbers have grown more in four months than they did in the previous four years.”
Growth concentrated among people on remand
The increase is largely due to growth in the remand population. In March 2026, the number of people held on remand reached a record high of 6,650, up 802 (13.7%) since November 2025.
“Nearly half of all people in custody are now on remand, meaning they have not been convicted and are waiting for their matters to be finalised by the courts, marking a significant shift in the composition of the prison population,” Jackie said. The growth in remand is concentrated among defendants charged with domestic and family violence (41% of the remand increase over the past four months), sexual violence (14%), non‑domestic violence assault (13%), and weapons offences (10%).
Police charges driving surge
The recent surge has been driven by a sharp increase in police charges. In the four months from December 2025 to March 2026, NSW Police charged almost 62,000 adults – a 13% increase compared with the same period in the previous year.
Domestic violence‑related charges rose even faster, increasing by 17%, from 15,929 to 18,593 over the same period.
“What we are seeing is increased police activity and stronger enforcement resulting in more people entering the justice system. Rather than a change in crime rates, higher charging levels are driving higher remand numbers, particularly for domestic violence,” Jackie said.
“For instance, domestic violence incidents coming to police attention are increasingly likely to result in a charge. Over the past year, the proportion of DV assaults leading to legal action within 30 days increased from 66% to 74%, bringing more people before the courts and into custody.”
Disproportionate impact on Aboriginal people
The growth in custody has disproportionately affected Aboriginal people, who accounted for 41% of the total prisoner increase over the past four months (up 435, or 10% since November 2025). In March 2026, there were 4,834 Aboriginal adults in custody (34.4% of the total custodial population) - the highest number and proportion on record.
“Increases in police charges of this magnitude place pressure on every part of the justice system, from courts and legal services through to prisons,” Jackie said. “If current charge volumes persist, this will continue to drive growth in custody numbers, and may bring forward the timeline for when additional prison capacity is required.”
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