Published April 2025
The Opposition is calling on the fledgling Minister for Corrections to urgently outline her plan for prison capacity – in light of shocking new data that shows South Australia’s inmate numbers are at record levels and our prisons are moments away from reaching maximum capacity.
In response to questions from the Opposition, the Department for Correctional Services has revealed that South Australia’s prison population peaked on March 18 at 3,464 – just 113 short of the Department’s approved capacity of 3,577.
In five years, by 2030-31, the Department is projecting a peak of 4,384 prisoners – 807 more than the current capacity.
Shadow Minister for Correctional Services, Jack Batty said the Government needs to be upfront with the public and outline its plan for prison capacity.
“This is the highest prisoner numbers have ever been in South Australia and if this troubling trend continues to rise, prisons could be beyond maximum capacity by this time next year,” Mr Batty said.
“It’s deeply alarming that South Australia is only months away from reaching full prison capacity, yet the Government seems to be turning a blind eye and have not announced a plan for what they will do when the prisons are full.
“I’m sick and tired of dangerous criminals being constantly released on bail or handed suspended sentences, often because there’s simply nowhere else for them to go.”
Mr Batty added that South Australia has some of the biggest court backlogs in the country – leading to record high numbers of prisoners on remand who aren’t able to access rehabilitation programs.
“This is a Government that has failed on law and order, and our prisons are filling up rapidly because of it,” Mr Batty said.
“Labor is failing to rehabilitate prisoners, resulting in an endless cycle of violence and offending that is making our community less safe.
“The former Liberal Government funded a business case into a new rehabilitation prison, which should be released to the public. We need to break the cycle, so we aren’t just releasing prison-hardened criminals onto our streets.”
Media Contact: Gretel Mead 0449 500 844
