🔗 Share this article

The number of Indigenous people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has reached its record point since official data began in 1980.

Fresh data reveal that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in detention in the year ending in June have been identified as Indigenous. This represents an uptick from 24 deaths in the previous corresponding period.

Indigenous Australian people remain severely overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up more than one-third of all prisoners, despite comprising under 4% of the country's population.

These disturbing statistics come to light more than three decades after a landmark royal commission into First Nations deaths in custody, which made hundreds of recommendations.

Detailed Analysis of the Recent Figures

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

One death occurred in youth detention, and the vast majority of the individuals were men.

The remaining six deaths took place in police custody, defined as when someone dies while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The leading cause of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-harm," followed by "illness." The report noted that hanging was the method in eight of the cases.

State-by-State Breakdown

The Australian state of New South Wales had the greatest number of Aboriginal deaths in correctional facilities with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory all recorded three deaths.

The rising number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing milestone," the state's coroner recently said.

In a recent statement, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this upward trend was not "just statistics" and that these deaths required "independent and careful examination, respect and accountability."

Profile Details and Expert Reaction

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

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

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple coronial inquests with bereaved families, stated very little has improved since the 1991 national inquiry that was established to tackle this crisis.

"It's heartbreaking to see the quantity of inquests I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are 30 years after the inquiry, and the problem is getting progressively worse," she noted.

From the time of the landmark inquiry, a total of 600 Indigenous people have died in custody, which includes six in youth detention, as per the report.