The number of people in NSW jails has dropped by almost 10 per cent in the past two years due to the impact of COVID-19.
In September, there were 12,254 adults in NSW jails - a drop of 1268 from 13,522 in the pre-pandemic period of September 2019 - according to new figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.
During that period, the number of male prisoners fell by 8.6 per cent and the number of women prisoners dropped by nearly 20 per cent.
The number of Indigenous male prisoners fell 2.3 per cent and the number of women Indigenous female prisoners fell 9.2 per cent.
"We saw a sharp drop in prisoner numbers during both the 2020 and the 2021 NSW lockdowns," BOCSAR executive director Jackie Fitzgerald said in a statement on Thursday.
"This is an abrupt change from pre-pandemic patterns during which prisoner volumes increased steadily for many years."
"The suspension of court operations and concern for prisoner welfare in relation to COVID-19 means fewer people have been incarcerated."
The prison population was now at its lowest level since 2015, Ms Fitzgerald said.
As offending levels and the criminal justice system return to normal, BOCSAR anticipates the adult prison population will return to pre-COVID 19 levels during the next 12 months.
"Unfortunately, the COVID-related fall in the prison population has been less significant for Aboriginal men and women.
"This means that the problem of Aboriginal over-representation remains very concerning."
Australian Associated Press