The use of imprisonment is measured in two ways: (1) through the percentage of convicted offenders imprisoned and (2) through the average length of prison sentence for those imprisoned. The prison sentences reported are the minimum (non-parole) or fixed term of imprisonment imposed for the offense. Statistical tests were conducted for each offense to determine whether significant upward or downward trends were evident in the percentage imprisoned and the average prison sentence length. The major offense categories of murder, manslaughter, assault, sexual assault, sexual offenses against children, robbery, burglary/break and enter, fraud/forgery, and deal or traffic in opiates were examined. Results show that penalties imposed in the NSW Higher and Local Courts became more severe between 1990 and 2000 for the Higher Courts, and 1993 to 2000 for the Local Courts. In six cases the percentage of convicted offenders given a prison sentence increased. Average prison terms generally remained stable although they increased for deal or traffic in opiates. The average prison sentence decreased for only one of the nine selected offenses in the Higher Court, robbery. This decrease was likely to be associated with the increase in the percentage of offenders being sent to prison for this offense. 4 tables, 1 note, appendix