🔗 Share this article

The number of Indigenous people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has climbed to its peak point since the beginning of records started in 1980.

New data show that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in custody in the 12-month period ending in June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an rise from 24 deaths in the preceding equivalent period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are severely represented in the justice system. They make up more than one-third of all prisoners, even though representing under 4% of the country's population.

These sobering numbers emerge more than three decades after a seminal inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of proposed changes.

Detailed Analysis of the Latest Statistics

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, 26 took place while in a correctional facility, which is an rise from 18 in the prior year.

One death occurred in youth detention, and all except one of the individuals were men.

The remaining six fatalities took place in the custody of law enforcement, defined as when someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The leading cause of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-harm," with "natural causes." The data found that hanging was the method in eight of the deaths.

State-by-State Breakdown

The state of New South Wales had the greatest number of Aboriginal 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 First Nations deaths in custody in this state is a "profoundly distressing milestone," the state's coroner has said.

In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "thorough and careful examination, respect and accountability."

Profile Information and Expert Response

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

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as representing a "national crisis" that requires "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at several official inquiries with grieving families, stated very little has improved since the 1991 national inquiry that was established to tackle this crisis.

"It's maddening to witness the number of investigations I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years past the royal commission, and the problem is getting increasingly worse," she commented.

Since the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in custody, which includes six in youth detention, according to the findings.