THE AUSTRALIAN PRISONS CENSUS - ESTIMATING REMAND TIMES

By applying a renewal theory model to data from the Australian Prisons Census, we estimate the number of remand receptions at prisons and th e mean and median remand times served by prisoners during the period 1 982-1990. We conclude that despite the general increases in court dela ys, and despite a large increase in the remand reception rate between 1982 and 1990, remand times have been largely unaffected, with the med ian remand time for 1990 being 1.7 weeks. Comparisons are made with of ficial figures for various states and with figures for Canada and Engl and/Wales.