E/CN.4/2002/24/Add.1 page 38 Table 5 Mandatory sentencing and custody rates, juveniles, adults and women in the Northern Territory* Exponential increase in juveniles in custody − Juvenile detentions have risen by 145% since 1996/97 − Remand commencements have increased by 58% since 1996/97 Juveniles are especially affected by mandatory sentencing because they tend to commit property offences − 89% of the offences committed by juveniles in detention were property offences The number of Aboriginal children in custody − In 1998/99, 75% of juveniles in detention were Aboriginal Women − The number of women in prison in the NT increased from 50 in 1995/96 to 276 in 1998/99, an increase of 552% since the introduction of mandatory sentencing − The number of Aboriginal women in prison in the NT increased from 43 in 1995/96 to 252 in 1998/99, an increase of 586% since the introduction of mandatory sentencing Adults − The territory imprisons almost four times as many of its citizens as any other state or territory of Australia − Between June 1996 and March 1999 adult imprisonment increased by 40% − Aboriginal people make up 77% of the Northern Territory’s prison population *Source: The figures are derived from the Northern Territory Correctional Services annual reports from 1996/97 to 1998/99.