Fed: Prison population at record level - ABS

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2003
Fed: Prison population at record level - ABS

The number of prisoners in Australian jails reached a record level in the September quarter.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics says the average daily number of prisoners was
22,735 -- a one per cent increase on the June quarter figure.

The average daily number of prisoners increased by 961, or four per cent, over the
year from the September quarter of 2002.

However, the rate of imprisonment of indigenous people increased by six per cent over
the same period.

The Northern Territory has the highest imprisonment rate, followed by Western Australia
and Queensland.

AAP RTV dep/rt/rp/wz/psm/

KEYWORD: PRISONERS (CANBERRA)

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