NCJ Number
222080
Editor(s)
Hugh Donnelly
Date Published
November 2007
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This report provides updated information on sentencing trends as they relate to the use of full-time imprisonment in Australia for the time period 2006-2007.
Abstract
The latest sentencing data confirms many of the conclusions of an earlier study. The use of full-time imprisonment in Australia remains at historically high levels. Comparing imprisonment rates per 100,000, New South Wales (NSW) remains higher than the Australian average, as well as some overseas jurisdictions. NSW continues to report the highest imprisonment rates in Australia for a number of specific offenses. Specific highlights include: (1) the NSW adult imprisonment rate was higher than the Australian average, as well as England and Canada; (2) NSW reported the highest imprisonment rate in Australia as a proportion of those convicted for sexual assault (93 percent), robbery (82 percent), and more serious robbery offenses (84 percent); (3) NSW had the third highest cost per prisoner per day ($256.80), after Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria; (4) the Indigenous imprisonment rate in Australia was 13 times higher than the non-Indigenous rate; in NSW, the Indigenous rate was 12 times higher; and (5) within Australia, 18 percent of prisoners are serving total sentences of less than 12 months; 57 percent of prisoners have previously served a sentence of adult imprisonment. Figures and tables