Australia witnesses its highest-ever number of prisoners

(MENAFN) Australia is witnessing its highest-ever number of prisoners, with figures continuing to climb, as nearly half of those incarcerated remain unsentenced, according to official statistics highlighted by a local news outlet.

In recent years, all Australian states and territories have introduced or are in the process of introducing stricter bail laws, particularly targeting young offenders, which experts say has contributed to the rising numbers.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals a consistent increase in the prison population over the last three years, growing from 40,330 inmates in March 2022 to 46,081 currently.

The number of individuals held without sentencing rose by 8% in the latest quarter, adding 1,345 people and bringing the total unsentenced prisoner count to 19,119. This group now accounts for 42% of the entire prison population.

The imprisonment rate stands at 214 inmates per 100,000 adults, with men making up 92% of those behind bars.

The Indigenous population faces the most disproportionate impact, with an incarceration rate of 2,559 per 100,000 Indigenous adults—representing 37% of the total prison population.

According to international data, Australia ranks seventh among G20 nations regarding its rate of incarceration.

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