Number of prisoners in Australia reaches all-time high: Report

The number of prisoners in Australia has reached an all-time high and continues to rise, with almost half of them having not been sentenced, local broadcaster ABC News reported on Sunday, citing official data.

This came as in the past few years, every state and territory has implemented, or is currently implementing, bail reform aimed at tightening laws, particularly for young offenders, according to the broadcaster.

The recently released data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed a steady rise in the prison population over the past three years, with the number of individuals in custody growing from 40,330 in March 2022 to 46,081 currently.

The number of unsentenced prisoners increased by 8%, an increase of 1,345 people, in the most recent quarter, reaching a total of 19,119. These individuals now make up 42% of the overall prison population.

The imprisonment rate has risen to 214 individuals per 100,000 adults, with men comprising 92% of the prison population.

Separately, the Indigenous community experiences the highest incarceration rate, at 2,559 per 100,000 Indigenous adults, representing 37% of all prisoners.

According to the World Prison Brief data, Australia ranks seventh among G20 countries in terms of imprisonment rates.