The reason the NSW prison population has hit a record high

The NSW prison population has hit record highs with more than 14,000 people in custody, fuelled by a surge in those charged with domestic violence awaiting trial or sentencing.

Data from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) released on Thursday revealed prisoner numbers rose to 14,070 between November and March, with those on remand up by more than 13 per cent to 6650 people. Those in custody on remand can wait months or years for their trial or hearing.

BOCSAR Executive Director Jackie Fitzgerald said numbers have grown more in four months than in the past four years, reaching the highest number ever recorded.

“Nearly half of all people in custody are now on remand, meaning they have not been convicted and are waiting for their matters to be finalised by the courts, marking a significant shift in the composition of the prison population,” she said.

“We’re looking at an extraordinarily sharp rise in the prison population over a relatively short period.”

The spike is driven by a surge in domestic violence-related charges, with a 17 per cent increase in charges in the four months to March. Stricter bail laws, designed to keep accused domestic violence offenders in custody, have also increased the remand population.

As prisons grapple with the influx, advocates warn that facilities lack the capacity to support the needs of the incarcerated and their families.

Alana White hasn’t been able to visit her partner, Brayden Roach, for more than four months. Roach, who faces charges of serious assault, aggravated break and enter, and car theft, has been in custody for a year with no trial date scheduled.

She said nearly a dozen previously scheduled in-person visits have been cancelled. Often, she learns of a cancellation only after arranging babysitting and making a 90-minute commute from western Sydney to Silverwater. She said the twice-weekly video chats were a poor substitute for a face-to-face meeting.

“I’m used to always being with him, and then to have no connection whatsoever … is hard,” she said. “How are we meant to continue our relationship when they won’t even let us see each other?”

She said the cancellations had affected their mental health, with Roach becoming “closed off” and feeling abandoned.

“I don’t know how much longer we can do this,” she said.

Prisoner advocate Renee McNab said maintaining family connections was one of the most important protective factors for mental health, rehabilitation, and successful reintegration into the community.

“Families, children, partners, and those incarcerated are being left emotionally and mentally exhausted by the constant uncertainty and disappointment,” she said.

McNab was concerned about the impact it would have on wellbeing and safety among prisoners, warning that poor mental health and heightened emotions could fuel violence.

A Corrective Services spokesperson said the centre “works hard to ensure inmates can maintain support networks on the outside during their custodial sentences” while also maintaining security.

Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said the government made “no apology” for locking up criminals.

“This data shows more offenders are being held to account as tougher bail laws and targeted policing take effect,” he said.

He said that while remand rates have increased, prisons were not yet at capacity, and that infrastructure is regularly reviewed to ensure operational needs are met.

However, he acknowledged operational or security issues can sometimes result in short-notice changes to visits, with the prison using video link to “help inmates stay connected with family”.

“Corrective Services NSW will always work to notify visitors as early as possible, minimising disruption wherever it can,” he said.

The government is expected to inject an additional $80 million into prisons to increase beds and staffing.

NSW Police launched its 13th blitz on high-risk and recidivist DV offenders under Operation Amarok on Wednesday, with specialist officers flooding into the state’s western region until Saturday likely to push the remand population even higher.

Domestic Violence NSW Policy and Advocacy Manager Angie Gehle said the figures only represented a fraction of the violence.

“There are thousands more cycling in and out of the justice system, or never coming into contact with it at all. That’s where some of the greatest risk sits, and we continue to see the devastating consequences of this in recent domestic violence-related murders involving perpetrators on bail,” she said.

“Arrests and remand alone will not end the domestic and family violence crisis.”

The body of triple murderer Julian Ingram was found on Monday outside Lake Cargelligo, the Central West NSW town where he killed three people, including his pregnant former partner, while on bail for domestic violence offences.

However, Ingram’s prior offences did not meet the threshold for the new bail laws, which place the onus on the alleged offender to justify why they should be released.

The bail laws were introduced after the 2024 murder of Molly Ticehurst, who was killed by her former partner Daniel Billings, who was on bail for earlier serious offences against her.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley described the figures were “sobering”, but said they were showing the “tough laws” were working.

“Police are moving earlier, acting harder and bringing more domestic violence offenders before the courts,” she said.

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