Indigenous Fatalities in Custody in the Nation Hit Record Level Since 1980

The number of Indigenous people dying while in custody in Australia has reached its peak point since official data began in 1980.

New figures indicate that 33 of the 113 individuals who passed away in detention in the year leading up to June were Indigenous. This marks an rise from 24 deaths in the preceding corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are grossly overrepresented in the justice system. They make up more than one-third of all prisoners, despite representing under 4% of the country's people.

These concerning numbers come to light more than three decades after a landmark royal commission into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Figures

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, 26 took place while in prison custody, which is an rise from 18 in the prior year.

A single death was in youth detention, and all except one of the deceased were male.

The other six fatalities happened in the custody of law enforcement, defined as when someone dies while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The main reason of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-harm," followed by "natural causes." The report found that hanging was the cause in eight of the cases.

State-by-State Breakdown

The state of New South Wales had the highest number of Indigenous deaths in correctional facilities with nine, then 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 New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing tragedy," the state's coroner recently said.

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

Demographic Information and Academic Reaction

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

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, described the figures as reflecting a "country-wide crisis" that needs "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at several official inquiries with grieving families, said very little has improved since the 1991's national inquiry that aimed to tackle this issue.

"It's maddening to witness the number of inquests I attend, the many funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades past the royal commission, and the problem is getting increasingly more severe," she noted.

Since the royal commission, a approximately 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in detention, which includes six in juvenile detention centers, as per the findings.