The adult prison population in NSW reached a record high in March 2026, according to new data released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR). The figures show 14,070 adults were in custody in March, the highest number ever recorded.
BOCSAR says the increase was rapid, with custody numbers rising by 1,064 people (8.2 per cent) between November 2025 and March 2026. Executive Director Jackie Fitzgerald described it as an “extraordinarily sharp rise”, noting prison numbers grew more in four months than in the previous four years.
The growth is being driven largely by remand, with the number of people held while awaiting court outcomes reaching a record 6,650 in March — up 802 since November. BOCSAR says nearly half of all people in custody are now on remand, and the recent growth has been concentrated among people charged with offences including domestic and family violence, sexual violence, assault and weapons offences.
For the Hunter region, the data suggest a different trend may be emerging compared with the statewide increase. Prison numbers in the Hunter have dropped by 4 per cent, while statewide numbers rose by 17 per cent
The Hunter Valley (exluding Newcastle), as well as Newcastle and Lake Macquarie were the only two regions in NSW to see a reduction.
