Spending on prisons has more than additional prisons need to be built in the near-to-medium term, doubled over the past decade alternative punishments should be adopted more broadly for low-risk non-violent offenders who do not pose a danger to The NSW government spent over $2 billion on the the community. [...] maintenance and operation of prisons in 2022-23.4 The average cost of detaining one prisoner for one day in NSW is Figure 3: Prison Utilisation Rates approximately $438, or $159,808 per year—higher than the 100% national average cost of incarceration of $422 per prisoner per day.5 Real net operating expenditure on NSW prisons 90% has increased by $1.108 billion over the past decade.6 80% In 2022-2. [...] Almost half of offenders released from prison Figure 4: Number of Violent Offenders in NSW commit a new offence and return to custody 46,000 The reoffence rate post-release from prison is higher in NSW 44,000 than most other Australian jurisdictions. [...] If the likelihood In 2013, violent offenders made up 26 per cent of all of apprehension is high, they are less likely to commit an offenders in NSW; by 2023 they made up 37 per cent of all offence. [...] Increasing the presence of police on the streets— offenders.14 The most significant rise in offences occurred in the thereby increasing the fear of apprehension—is the best categories of acts intended to cause injury, sexual assault, and deterrent of crime.
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Table of Contents
- 1. Sentencing reform has curbed rising 1
- NSW holds more prisoners behind bars than any other state or territory there are currently more than 12800 offenders behind bars an increase of 18 per cent since 2014. 1
- Figure 1 Average number of adult prisoners by year 1
- 2. Spending on prisons has more than 1
- Figure 2 Recurrent expenditure on NSW prisons 2013-2023 1
- 3. Capacity issues have been addressed by 1
- Figure 3 Prison Utilisation Rates 1
- October 2024 Mia Schlicht Research Fellow 1
- PARLIAMENTARY RESEARCH BRIEF 1
- A Research note from the Institute of Public Affairs distributed to all NSW parliamentarians 1
- Figure 4 Number of Violent Offenders in NSW 2
- Criminal justice reform must target two key areas to improve community safety. 2
- Firstly it must implement more meaningful alternative 2
- Secondly it must ensure that the money saved from 2
- 4. Almost half of offenders released from prison 2
- The fact that many prisoners are released and then go on to reoffend indicates a systemic breakdown in the justice systems ability to produce law-abiding individuals and ensure community safety. 2
- 5. The surging number of violent offenders 2
