Unsentenced prisoners make up a third of Australia’s prison population as bail refusals boom

The number of unsentenced people in Australian jails has risen more than 120% over 10 years, to account for more than a third of the total prison population, as human rights advocates urge reforms to ensure people aren’t needlessly funnelled into the criminal justice system.

• Adeshola Ore
• The Guardian

More than 15,000 prisoners, or about 35% of the nation’s prison population, were unsentenced – awaiting trial, sentencing or deportation – in 2021.

In 2011, when there were 6,723 unsentenced prisoners, that cohort accounted for less than 25% of the prison population.

It comes as…

• Unsentenced prisoners make up a…