First Nations Deaths in Custody in Australia Climb to Record Number Since the Start of 1980

The count of Indigenous people dying while in custody in Australia has reached its record point since records began in 1980.

Fresh figures reveal that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in custody in the year ending in June have been identified as Indigenous. This represents an rise from 24 deaths in the previous corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain disproportionately represented in the justice system. They make up more than one-third of all prisoners, even though representing under 4% of the national population.

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

Detailed Analysis of the Recent Statistics

Of the 33 Aboriginal 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 previous year.

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

The other six fatalities took place in the custody of law enforcement, defined as when someone dies while police are detaining them.

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

Geographic Distribution

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

In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward pattern was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful scrutiny, dignity and responsibility."

Profile Details and Expert Response

The average age of those who died was 45, and 11 of the deceased were still waiting for a sentence.

A university associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as reflecting a "national emergency" that needs "decisive action and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple official inquiries with grieving families, stated very little has improved since the 1991 royal commission that was established to tackle this issue.

"It's heartbreaking to witness the quantity of investigations I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades after the royal commission, and the situation is getting progressively more severe," she noted.

From the time of the royal commission, a total of 600 First Nations people have died in detention, which includes six in youth detention, according to the report.