The number of Indigenous adults in NSW prisons is at an all-time high as domestic violence offences creep up.
There were 4103 Aboriginal adults in custody in September, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, up more than 8 per cent since September 2023.
Aboriginal inmates now make up almost a third of the adult custody population - the highest proportion on record.
The bureau's Jackie Fitzgerald said the general prison population had dropped to 1000 fewer inmates than before COVID but the number of Aboriginal adults had skyrocketed, with 369 more than in February 2020.
"To put that in perspective, one in 27 Aboriginal men and one in 280 Aboriginal women in NSW are currently incarcerated," Ms Fitzgerald said.
The recent increase in the prison population is attributed to an increase in people refused bail but not yet sentenced, otherwise known as on remand.
Ms Fitzgerald said domestic violence defendants were being refused bail at higher rates, resulting in more crowded prisons.
Almost 1000 people charged with domestic violence-related assault are on remand in NSW prisons, up 29 per cent.
While 241 people charged with intimidation and stalking, 81 charged with breaching an apprehended violence order and 249 charged with domestic violence-related sexual offences were on remand.
A third of the prison population on remand were in custody for domestic violence offences in September.
"People waiting for their court date on remand for domestic violence make up an ever-increasing proportion of the NSW prison population," Ms Fitzgerald said.
"Domestic violence offences account for more than half of the increase in the adult remand population and 58 per cent of the increase in Aboriginal remand population."
More than 45 per cent of the Aboriginal prison population is currently waiting on remand.
Across the country, incarceration rates for Indigenous Australians are on the rise, with 15,424 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners in the June quarter, up from 14,011 in the same 2023 period.
Nationally, more than 17,000 people are on remand, while normal prison numbers are up two per cent since March.
Western Australia has the most incarcerated Aboriginal population, followed by the Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland.
