Short prison sentences arising from people on remand is risking future incarceration, with the number of unsentenced prisoners ballooning over the past two decades.

Victoria's prison population grew from 3651 adult prisoners to 5915, a 62 per cent rise, in the 20 years to the end of June 2024, outpacing the 39 per cent population growth over the same period, according to prison population analysis by the state's Sentencing Advisory Council.

The state's prison population numbers were directly associated with the number of people being held on remand - those who have been charged but not released on bail, council director Stan Winford said.

Prisoner numbers remained stable between 3500 to 4500 from 2004 to 2011 before significant growth, peaking at more than 8100 prisoners between 2012 to

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