NEW data released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) shows the state’s prison population reached 13,133 in December 2025, an increase of 8.5 percent (1,026 people) over the past two years.
The growth has been driven by a sharp rise in the number of people held on remand.
Between December 2023 and December 2025, the remand population increased by 1,016 people (up 20.1 percent) to a record 6,081.
As a result, people on remand now make up 46 percent of the adult prison population, the highest proportion ever recorded.
“If current trends continue, people on remand will account for half the prison population within the next two years,” said Jackie Fitzgerald, Executive Director of BOCSAR.
Domestic violence offences account for a third of NSW remand population
“About half of the growth in the remand population over the past two years is due to an increase in domestic violence defendants being held in custody prior to their court date,” said Ms Fitzgerald.
“The number of people on remand for a domestic violence offence rose by 483 people, or 33 percent, to 1,943 in December 2025.
“One in three adults on remand is now being detained in relation to a domestic violence offence.”
Ms Fitzgerald said the increase reflects long‑running growth in domestic violence charges laid by NSW Police, combined with changes in bail outcomes.
“Domestic violence legal actions have increased by around 50 percent since 2019.
“More charges mean more people coming before the courts and more people subject to a bail decision,” she said.
“In addition, bail refusal rates for domestic violence offences have increased recently.
Between 2023 and 2025, the domestic violence bail refusal rate rose from 17.5 percent to 19.4 percent, further contributing to the growth in the remand population.”
Record high in Aboriginal incarceration
December 2025 also marked a new record in the number of Aboriginal adults in custody, which reached 4,452 people.
Aboriginal adults now make up a record 34 percent of the NSW prison population, despite representing only three percent of the general population.
“The incarceration rate for Aboriginal adults is now an alarming 15 times higher than for non‑Aboriginal adults,” said Ms Fitzgerald.
“In December 2025, around one in 25 Aboriginal men living in NSW was in prison.
“These record numbers show that we are still not seeing the reductions needed to address Aboriginal overrepresentation in custody or to meet Closing the Gap targets.
“This remains one of the most persistent and pressing challenges facing the criminal justice system.”
Remand, DV and Indigenous prison populations hit new highs in NSW
In December 2025, the adult custody population was 13,133 (12,275 men and 858 women).
The overall prison population remains below pre‑pandemic levels – 502 fewer people than in December 2019 when the population was 13,635.
Despite this, December 2025 recorded new highs for several cohorts, including:
- Remand population: Reached a record 6,081 people, an increase of 1,016 people (up 20.1 percent) since December 2023.
- Domestic violence offenders: Reached a record 3,565 people in December 2025, up 24 percent from 2,878 in December 2023.Of those in custody for a domestic violence offence in December 2025, 54.5 percent were on remand (1,943 people), up 33 percent from 1,460 in December 2023.
- Aboriginal adults in custody: Reached a record 4,452 people in December 2025, representing 33.9 percent of the adult prison population – the highest number and proportion on record.Between December 2023 and December 2025, Aboriginal adults in custody increased by 681 people (up 18.1 percent), compared with an increase of 343 people (up 4.1 percent) among non‑Aboriginal adults.
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
