The Australian imprisonment rate has remained relatively stable from 1960 to 1980, although imprisonment rates in various jurisdictions have varied. In recent years, most jurisdictions have taken legislative or administrative steps to reduce or prevent an increase in the number of inmates. Steps include the expansion of sentencing options and shorter prison sentences. Inmate offenses vary across jurisdictions, but homicide, breaking and entering, and robbery are the prevalent offenses occasioning imprisonment. The number of detainees imprisoned has increased in recent years, and there is evidence that detention is not necessary for many of them. Over the past 10 years, female inmates have increased from 2.6 to 4.6 percent. In most jurisdictions, females are kept in one small institution with no chance of transfer to medium or minimum security. A significant problem is the disproportionate imprisonment of Aboriginal offenders. Federal inmates are housed in State prisons, and the Federal Government does not pay for their incarceration costs, virtually permitting the States to determine their treatment in prison. Classification is the primary tool of prison management, but the shortage of spare prison capacity has limited the effectiveness and flexibility of the classification system. Inmate transfers are rare except for compelling reasons. There is some tension over the role and status of prison guards among professional prison staff. The paper concludes with a discussion of the future of Australian prisons. 16 footnotes.