NSW Prisoner Complaints Rise 60% as Remand Numbers and Lockdowns Grow
NSW prisons logged 32,168 complaints in the year to June 30, 2026, a 60 per cent jump from the previous year. The increase outpaced growth in the prison population, sharpening questions about staffing, daily conditions and the strain of holding more people on remand.
The figures come from the annual report of the NSW Inspector of Custodial Services. Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) cautioned that more complaints don’t automatically mean conditions have deteriorated: a larger inmate population, more visits by Official Visitors and greater confidence in independent complaint channels could all contribute.
University of Technology Sydney law professor Thalia Anthony said the scale of the rise surprised her. “The rate of complaints far exceeds the increase in people in prison,” she said, adding that there were reasons inmates might feel conditions were worsening.
Daily conditions drive complaints
Medical issues were the most frequently raised subject in 2025–26. Complaints about unfair treatment, tablet computers and prison routines also climbed. The inspector’s report identified lock-ins, or lockdowns, as a major source of concern.
“Short staffing and the subsequent impact of inmate lock-ins have been further compounded by the limited availability of functioning tablets and the cost of phone calls,” the report said. The complaints point to practical pressures that shape daily life inside prisons, from restricted movement to limited access to communication.
Inmates raise concerns in person with Official Visitors, independent community representatives appointed by the corrections minister. A total of 93 visitors are tasked with examining conditions in adult and youth justice centres, receiving complaints and enquiries, and reporting to the NSW government. The report said most complaints were resolved within the prison, with only a small number referred to the CSNSW commissioner.
Greens justice spokesperson Sue Higginson argued that a 2025 change lowering the standard of proof in inmate disciplinary proceedings may also have contributed to the increase. “We know that inmates were being accused of things they hadn’t done and then being really punished,” she said. “The complaint system is where these grievances ultimately end up.”
Higginson also linked the rise to a tougher approach to crime and growing prison numbers. She said more people were being held in centres “that are not fit for purpose,” and argued that complaints should be understood in that context.
Remand population adds pressure
The number of people held on remand has grown as more accused people are refused bail. NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures show a 32 per cent increase in remand prisoners over the three years to 2026, following tighter bail laws for people accused of serious domestic violence offences.
Public Service Association NSW general secretary Stewart Little estimated that about 7,000 people were being held on remand within a total prison population of roughly 14,200. He said people arriving on remand often need legal visits and substantial support, including assistance related to drug, alcohol or other substance use.
To add capacity, the government announced in September that it would reopen the mothballed Dawn de Loas Correctional Centre at Silverwater and accelerate the addition of beds at Parklea Correctional Centre. The measures address space, but Anthony said staffing remains central to the system’s ability to cope with the growing population.
CSNSW said Official Visitors perform an “important function to ensure our correctional system remains open, fair, and transparent.” Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong declined an interview.
For Anthony, the complaint figures are a signal to examine both who is being sent to prison and what they encounter there. She warned that mistreatment and inhumane conditions could leave people more disengaged when they return to the community. Adding prison beds may ease crowding, but the pressures described in the report will persist unless staffing and conditions keep pace with the population.
