Key Points
- States and territories administer separate criminal justice systems
- You can locate a family member in prison through Correctional Services
- Nearly half of all prisoners will reoffend within two years
- Resources are available to support people with a loved one in custody
States and territories govern their own criminal justice and prison systems, and approximately 80 per cent of Australian prisons are government-run.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) collects data on the prison population.
“In June 2021 we had 43,000 prisoners in the adult correction system, and of those just over 15,000 were on remand awaiting trial,” says William Milne, Director of the ABS National Centre of Crime and Justice Statistics.
It’s important to acknowledge the disproportionately high incarceration rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Incarceration rates are ten times higher than the rest of the Australian population due to complex factors such as historic trauma and generational disadvantage.
Entering the prison system
When a person is taken into custody they undergo assessment. The most serious offenders such as terrorists receive the highest security classification, says Emma Smith, Custodial Director for Metro West in NSW.
“We have maximum, medium and minimum-security centres," Ms Smith explains.
"When someone is received into custody, we conduct a screening and a classification of the inmate. What they’re in custody for, whether they’ve been found guilty or whether they’re on remand determines where they get housed, and under what classification.”
A remand prisoner is someone who is held in custody after they have been arrested and charged with an offence, and is still awaiting trial or sentencing.
Men account for ninety-two per cent of the prison population, though the number of women has grown at a greater rate than men over the past decade.
Women and men are housed in separate facilities to accommodate their very different needs. Women more often come from abusive backgrounds, have higher rates of drug and alcohol dependence, and may enter prison while pregnant, for example.
The ABS reports the median time sentenced prisoners spend in custody is three and a half years.
A prisoner in green uniform handcuffed Source: AAP Image/David Gray
Once behind bars, inmates are required to attend health clinics and programs to address their offending behaviours.
Inmates are also expected to work in facility maintenance, or in industries within the centre such as engineering, printing, or prison shops (known as ‘buy-ups’).
On parole
Some inmates have a full-term sentence that means they serve their whole sentence in prison. However, a large proportion of inmates are offered an earlier date when they can be released on parole into the community under close supervision, says Ms Smith.
It’s a really good opportunity for inmates to have that support and for the community to know that they are being monitored. It allows that reintegration.
Parramatta Correctional Centre, former medium security prison Source: Getty Images/Andrew Merry
Locating a loved one
You can contact the relevant state Department of Corrective Services to find out where a family member is being held.
To visit someone in prison you, must seek pre-approval.
Each prison has a phone booking service that will inform you of visiting hours, any restrictions and even dress requirements.
Support for families on the outside
Volunteer Nadia set up as an online resource for people with loved ones in prison, like herself.
Bars Between lists support networks run by volunteers who understand the sense of shame, stigma, and isolation that people in that situation might feel, says Nadia.
Families are often left to carry the emotional and financial burden of someone in prison.
Someone once said, ‘the person does the crime, and the family does the time’. It really feels like that.
Reoffending after release
The drivers for recidivism are complex. Drug use, unemployment, low education levels and poor mental health are all risk factors. So is a lack of support services following release.
The Australian Productivity Commission reports alarming reoffending rates, explains the ABS’ William Milne.
“About 46 per cent of prisoners will reoffend within two years," Mr Milne said
"Of those that are currently in prison, we can see around 60 per cent have a prior imprisonment term, but that’s not necessarily within the two years.”
Nadia believes that family support post-release is essential.
“Research shows that there is more chance a person, once released, will be able to reintegrate back into society and not be one of those statistics returning to prison if they have good family support on the outside,” she said.
SBS’ new documentary series is an initiative aimed at tackling high reoffending rates.
Watch the trailer here:
