NSW Custody Statistics Quarterly Update

JEFF GIBBS

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has released its NSW Custody Statistics Quarterly Update for September 2024, providing insights into adult prison and youth detention trends across the state.

KEY FINDINGS

Adult Prison Population

• Total Custody: In September 2024, 12,897 adults were in custody, unchanged from June 2024 (12,917) but up 5% year-on-year (+625 from 12,272 in September 2023).

• Remand Trends: The number of adults on remand remained stable over the past quarter (5,643 in September 2024 vs. 5,763 in June 2024) but increased signifcantly over the past year (+660 or 13.2%).

• Domestic Violence (DV) Remandees: o 55% of the remand population increase over the past year is attributed to DV cases. o 31% of remandees were held for DV offences in September 2024, up from 28% in September 2023. o Key DV offences contributing to this increase:

- DV assault: +218 (+28.7%) to 978

- DV intimidation/ stalking: +64 (+36.2%) to 241

- Breach of ADVO: +35 (+76.1%) to 81

- DV sexual offences: +31 (+10%) to 349

• Aboriginal Prison Population: o Aboriginal adults in custody reached a record high of 4,103, representing 32% of the adult prison population in NSW. o Aboriginal remandees increased by 14.5% (+236) over the past year. o Nearly half of Aboriginal adults in custody are on remand (45.4%).

Youth Detention Trends

• Total Youth

Detention: In September 2024, 209 young people were in detention, a 15% decline (-37) from June 2024, which marked the highest point since the pandemic.

• Remand Decline: The decrease in youth detention is primarily driven by a drop in young people on remand (145 in September 2024, down 22.9% or -43 since June 2024).

• Primary Offences in Youth Custody: o Car theft: 14.3%

(31 young people) o Robbery: 13.9% (29 young people) o Break and enter: 13.4% (28 young people)

• Aboriginal Youth Detention: o Aboriginal young people make up 60% of the youth detention population (125 individuals). o Most are from Regional NSW, with 73.6% of Aboriginal youth detainees coming from areas such as:

- New England and North West (Moree, Tamworth, Armidale)

- Mid-North Coast (Kempsey, Mid-Coast)

- Far West & Orana (Dubbo, Bourke)

Conclusion

The data highlights pressing issues, including the growing representation of Aboriginal people in custody and the signifcant role of domestic violencerelated offences in remand trends. Conversely, the decline in youth detention refects progress in addressing remand numbers among young people.

For further information, please refer to the full NSW Custody Statistics Quarterly Update September 2024 via the QR code below.