Overview

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) currently collects data on the health of people in prison in Australia through a national survey of public and private prisons. People in prison often have substantial and complex health needs. They have higher rates of mental health conditions, chronic disease, communicable disease, acquired brain injury, tobacco smoking, high-risk alcohol consumption, recent illicit drug use, and recent injecting drug use than the general population.

Featured reports

Latest findings

1 in 3 (31%) prison entrants had an education level of Year 9 or below

Nearly 1 in 2 (48%) people being released from prison expected to be homeless

3 in 4 (73%) prison entrants used illicit drugs in the previous year

More reports and statistics on people in prison can be found under Youth justice.