NSW prison system sees rise in domestic violence offences

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has released data that supports the proposition that the police, welfare agencies and the courts are more than ever before occupied by the consequences of domestic violence.

Domestic violence has devastating consequences for victims of physical and mental abuse. Apart from the actual bodily harm, mental illness often results from each offence. Long term harm in the form of a lifetime of anxiety and fear is a known outcome for many victims.

The data does not show whether the increase in violence offenders in the prison population, is a consequence of migration ( a larger population ) or more severe action by the police or an actual increase in the number of offences or a higher proportion of violence offences being reported to the authorities.

The report from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, provides confirmation that domestic violence suspects - offenders are more likely to be in custody as they await their court hearing date.

From December 2023 to June 2024 the number of adults on remand for a domestic violence offence rose by 24% (from 1460 to 1811). New figures released today by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) show that the remand population is now 5763, the highest on record.

Executive Director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Jackie Fitzgerald, says “Domestic violence is the main driver behind the recent increase in remand. This is primarily due to an increase in the rate at which domestic violence defendants are being refused bail (up from 18% in the 3 months to December 2023 to 22% in the 3 months to June 2024). People waiting for their court date on remand make up an ever-increasing proportion of the NSW prison population. In June 2024, remandees comprised 45% of adults in custody - the highest proportion on record.

“In June 2024, one-third (31%) of adults on remand were in custody for a domestic violence offence including: DV assault (up 233 or 29% since Dec 2023), DV intimidation/stalking (up 54 or 27% since Dec 2023) and breach Apprehended Violence Order (up 23 or 32% since Dec 2023),” Jackie says. "The Aboriginal adult prison population is also at a record high, comprising 31% of the prison population in June 2024. Almost two-thirds (62%) of the increase in Aboriginal remandees in the last 6 months was driven by domestic violence offences.

Supporting data:

In June 2024, the adult custody population was 12,917, up from 12,279 in June 2023 and 12,091 in December 2023.

While the adult prison population remains lower than prior to the pandemic (13,403 in June 2019), over the 12 months from June 2023 to June 2024, the number of adults in prison rose 5% (up 638 inmates).

Despite the recent increase in the total prison population, there has been a fall in sentenced prisoners (down 4% or 294 people since June 2023).

By comparison, the remand population is now at the highest level on record and is driving the increase in the prison population. In June 2024, the remand population was 5763 (up 932 or 19% since June 2023, when the remand population was 4831).

Domestic violence accounts for half (50%) of the increase in adults remanded over the last six months. The number of remandees whose most serious offence was domestic violence increased from 1460 in December 2023 (29% of the remand population), to 1811 in June 2024 (31% of the remand population).

The proportion of adults charged with a domestic violence offence who were refused bail increased from 18% in Q4 2023 to 22% in Q2 2024. This equates to an additional 370 adults refused bail for a DV offence (up from 1876 in Q4 2023 to 2246 in Q2 2024).

In June 2024, the Aboriginal adult custody population was 4039, up from 3696 in June 2023 and 3727 in December 2023. The number of Aboriginal adults on remand was 1891 in June 2024, up from 1466 in June 2023 and 1662 in December 2023.

The report can be viewed here. https://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/