Link to report summary – NSW Custody Statistics: Quarterly update December 2021

Today BOCSAR released the new statistical report NSW Custody Statistics, Quarterly Update, December 2021.
  
Adult Prison Population
The adult prison population remained stable in the three months from September 2021 to December 2021. 
Over the medium term, however, the prison population fell considerably in-line with COVID 19 mitigation strategies. In the two years from December 2019 to December 2021 the adult prison population fell 11% (1,467 fewer people). 
At 12,168 people in December 2021, the adult prison population was at its lowest level since the end of 2015.

 
From December 2019 to December 2021:

• the number of Aboriginal adults in prison fell 6% (from 3,551 people in Dec 2019 to 3,346 in Dec 2021). In December 2021, 27% of adults in prison were Aboriginal.
• the number of adult women in prison fell 20% (from 981 women in Dec 2019 to 780 women in Dec 2021). In December 2021, 6% of adults in prison were women.

Youth Detention Population
The youth detention population reached a new historic low at the end of December 2021, falling to 161 young people.  This was 12 fewer young people in detention since September 2021.
In the two years from December 2019 to December 2021 the number of young people in custody fell 40% (109 fewer young people in detention). 
 

 
From December 2019 to December 2021:

• The number of Aboriginal young people in custody fell 43% (down 52 detainees from 121 in Dec 2019 to 69 in Dec 2021). In December 2021, 43% of young people in custody were Aboriginal.
• The number of young females in custody fell 54% (down 13 detainees from 24 females in Dec 2019 to 11 in Dec 2021). In December 2021, 7% of young people in custody were female.