What is the “one legal change” that has seen the prison population skyrocket?

3 thoughts on “What is the “one legal change” that has seen the prison population skyrocket?”

1. Time on remand counts toward final sentence so how can more on remand increase the prison muster?

   LikeLike

   Reply

   1. I don’t think that’s so much a question of sentence length, but rather the absolute number of people in prison.

      Some people are found not guilty at trial. But if they have not been granted bail in the lead up to trial then for the 18 months between charge and trial they have been taking up a prison bed. That’s an extra person added to the prison muster that would not be there had they been granted bail.

      Sentence length will contribute too, though. The longer a person’s sentence the more likely it is that they will be serving that sentence at the same time as someone else’s sentence. And every time there is an overlap that is one less bed in prison available. That principle holds true even if pre-trial detention is counted towards sentence.

      LikeLike

      Reply

      1. 20% found not guilty and another 20% sentenced to time served.

         LikeLike