The number of people in custody in NSW remains lower than in past years due to pandemic-related influences in the justice system.
In December 2020 there were 12,766 adults in prison. This is a 6% decline, or 869 fewer adults than in December 2019. The December 2020 prison population was equivalent to that of December 2016, four years earlier (n=12,729).
The female prison population has shown a larger reduction than average. In the year to December 2020 the female prison population fell by 12% compared with a 6% reduction for males.
As previously reported, justice responses to COVID-19 led to a large drop in the prison population in the second quarter of 2020. The drivers were:
- An increase in custodial discharges as people were released from remand to wait for their court case in the community
- A reduction in remand receptions due to changes in charge volumes and remand rates
- A reduction in prison sentences as court appearances were deferred
Throughout the second half of 2020 the prison population remained steady at post-pandemic levels.
The youth detention population has shown even larger recent reductions and is currently at historic lows. In December 2020 there were 184 young people in custody, a 32% drop, or 86 fewer young people, than in December 2019.
