Number of female prisoners expected to surge by 63 percent over next decade (opens original article in a new tab)

The number of female prisoners in New Zealand is expected to surge 63% over the next decade due to proposed tougher theft penalties, according to a Ministry of Justice report. Women's remand, sentenced, and prison populations are all projected to increase significantly, with theft being the most common offence among women in custody.

• Number of female prisoners expected to increase by 63% over next decade
• New law proposing tougher theft penalties would impact women more than men
• Women's remand population projected to grow 82% by 2036
• Theft was the most common offence among women in custody in 2023/24
• Proposed law would change theft penalty thresholds for property valued under $2000
• Women's prison population increase projected to outpace overall prison population growth