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The number of First Nations people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has climbed to its record point since the beginning of records began in 1980.

New statistics reveal that 33 of the 113 people who died in custody in the 12-month period leading up to June have been identified as Indigenous. This represents an increase from 24 deaths in the prior corresponding period.

Indigenous Australian people remain disproportionately overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all prisoners, despite comprising under 4% of the national people.

These concerning numbers emerge over three decades after a landmark inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, twenty-six occurred while in a correctional facility, which is an increase from 18 in the prior year.

A single death was in youth detention, and the vast majority of the individuals were male.

The remaining six deaths happened in police custody, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The primary reason of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-harm," followed by "natural causes." The report found that hanging was the cause in eight of the cases.

Geographic Distribution

The Australian state of New South Wales recorded the highest number of Indigenous deaths in prison custody with nine, followed by Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory all recorded three deaths.

The growing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing tragedy," the state's chief medical examiner has remarked.

In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this rising trend was not "just statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful examination, respect and accountability."

Profile Details and Expert Response

The mean age of those who died was 45, and 11 of the deceased were awaiting a sentence.

A university associate professor, Amanda Porter, described the figures as representing a "national emergency" that requires "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple coronial inquests with grieving families, stated very little has changed since the 1991's national inquiry that was established to address this issue.

"It's heartbreaking to witness the number of inquests I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years past the inquiry, and the problem is getting increasingly worse," she noted.

From the time of the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 First Nations people have lost their lives in custody, which includes six in juvenile detention centers, as per the report.