Key Facts:
· Aboriginal women are bearing the brunt of this approach, being 22 times more likely to be imprisoned than non-Indigenous women.
· 60% of imprisoned women are mothers of dependent children, creating profound intergenerational consequences.
· Women held on remand now comprise over 50% of the female prison population, with 52% of these women ultimately not receiving a custodial sentence.
· It costs $180,000 per woman per year in prison, plus an average of $110,000 annually per child placed in care – money which would deliver better results if invested in prevention and diversion programs.
The NSW Government has been urged to take swift action to address the alarming surge in women in the state's prisons, with a new plan offering actionable steps to prevent women being imprisoned and focus on community reintegration to break the cycle and support strong families.
The strategy from the Keeping Women Out of Prison (KWOOP) Coalition, launched today at Parliament House, aims to halve the rate of women's imprisonment in NSW by 2030, with a particular focus on Aboriginal women who are 22 times more likely to be imprisoned than non-Indigenous women.
It contains 18 recommendations including greater investment and prioritisation of diversion, evidence-based parenting programs in prisons, providing women on remand with access to programs and services, and establishing a 30-day temporary housing guarantee for women leaving prison.
"Women's pathways into the criminal legal system are fundamentally different from men's, shaped by trauma, domestic violence, substance misuse, and socio-economic disadvantage," said Professor Emerita Eileen Baldry, Co-Chair of KWOOP.
"This strategy provides a practical, evidence-based plan that tackles these root causes. We know what works – now we need policymakers to take action and stem the tide of women going behind bars."
KWOOP Co-Chair and CEO of the Women and Girls Emergency Centre (WAGEC) Nicole Yade emphasised the human cost of the current system: "Behind every statistic is a woman, often a mother, whose incarceration ripples through families and communities for generations. This strategy offers practical ways to prevent women's criminalisation in the first place, showing how we can invest early to change the trajectory for a woman and her family."
The comprehensive framework has three strategic linked priority areas:
- Preventing Women from Going to Prison – through early support, fairer bail decisions, and community-based programmes
- Supporting Women in Prison – ensuring all women in custody receive appropriate care regardless of legal status
- Helping Women Return to the Community – supporting successful reintegration through housing, employment, and family reconnection.
The economic case for reform is compelling. It costs $180,000 per woman per year to keep someone in prison, and an additional $110,000 annually for each child placed in out-of-home care.[1] Strategic investment in prevention and diversion programs would not only reduce these costs but also strengthen families and communities. Research shows that women with stable housing are nearly three times less likely to return to custody, underscoring the importance of addressing underlying socio-economic disadvantage.
With more than half of women in prison held on remand – and 52% ultimately not receiving a custodial sentence – the strategy calls for targeted bail support programmes and legislative reforms to better utilise existing alternatives to custody and reduce the number of women entering prison.
The strategy places a strong emphasis on justice for Aboriginal women, calling for culturally appropriate services delivered by Aboriginal-controlled organisations and expanded cultural support programs. These measures are essential to reversing the stark inequities faced by Aboriginal women in the criminal legal system.
The KWOOP Coalition, established in 2013, is an independent coalition of individuals and organisations including service providers, philanthropic organisations, universities, and women with lived experience of the criminal legal system. KWOOP is a sub-fund of the Sydney Community Foundation and is proudly supported Joby the Judith Neilson Foundation.
Today's event to launch the KWOOP Strategic Framework 2025-2028 will be co-hosted by three government Ministers: The Hon. Jodie Harrison MP (Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault); The Hon. Rose Jackson MLC (Minister for Water, Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness, Minister for Mental Health, and Minister for Youth); and The Hon. Kate Washington MP (Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Inclusion).
The full strategy document
