A new public data dashboard is set to provide greater insight into the ACT’s prison population, with officials saying it will improve transparency and accountability in the justice system.

ACT Corrective Services has launched the online tool, which publishes key data on detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC), including population trends and demographic breakdowns.

It offers monthly updates on the average daily custodial population, as well as figures on people entering and leaving custody. Users can filter the data by legal status, gender and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status, and track changes over time.

For example, the dashboard lists the AMC prison population at 493, an 18 per cent increase over 12 months ago, of which 24 are female, an 83 per cent increase in 12 months. There are 223 people on remand and 270 sentenced prisoners.

The initiative follows recommendations from multiple reviews calling for justice agencies to improve public access to data and better report on outcomes.

ACT Corrective Services Commissioner Leanne Close said the dashboard brings together information that was previously scattered across different reports.

“This dashboard brings together information that has previously been published across a range of reports and formats and presents it in one clear, accessible place,” Ms Close said.

“Our focus is on presenting clear numbers that accurately reflect the make-up of people in our custody in an accessible, timely way.”

Ms Close said improving access to data would help the community better understand the corrections system while also supporting ongoing reform.

The public dashboard builds on existing internal data tools used by Corrective Services, with more features and metrics expected to be added over time as part of a staged rollout.