The prison population in New South Wales (NSW) has surged to its highest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with recent data indicating a significant rise. According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), as of March 2025, there are 13,103 adults incarcerated in the state. This figure marks an increase from a sharp decline during the pandemic, which saw stable numbers until late 2023 when the incarcerated population began to rise once more.
Since November 2023, the number of inmates has grown by 1,055, equating to an 8.8 per cent increase. A troubling aspect of this rise is the number of unconvicted Indigenous prisoners, which BOCSAR describes as a “concerning component” of the overall trends in incarceration. As of March 2025, there were 4,244 Indigenous adults in custody, making up approximately 32 per cent of the total prison population. Notably, the number of Indigenous remandees—individuals awaiting trial—has seen a dramatic increase of 63 per cent over the last five years.
Domestic violence-related charges have contributed significantly to this growth in the prison population, with arrests for such offenses more than doubling during the same period. In contrast to the overall prison numbers, which remain below pre-pandemic levels, Indigenous incarceration rates have risen sharply, exceeding levels seen in 2019.
Jackie Fitzgerald, executive director of BOCSAR, has emphasised the pressing need for new policies and interventions to address the over-representation of Aboriginal individuals in the criminal justice system. This need aligns with the broader commitment to “Closing the Gap,” aiming to reduce Aboriginal incarceration rates by at least 15 per cent by 2031.
The current statistics highlight an urgent call to reassess approaches to justice and incarceration to ensure equitable treatment within the system, particularly for Indigenous communities.