🔗 Share this article

The number of First Nations people dying while in custody in Australia has hit its highest point since official data started in 1980.

New data reveal that 33 of the 113 people who died in detention in the 12-month period leading up to June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an uptick from 24 fatalities in the previous corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain severely overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They make up more than one-third of all prisoners, despite comprising less than four per cent of the national population.

These disturbing statistics emerge over three decades after a pivotal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Latest Statistics

Of the 33 Aboriginal deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, 26 occurred while in prison custody, which is an increase from 18 in the previous year.

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

The remaining six deaths happened in the custody of law enforcement, defined as when someone dies while police are detaining them.

The main reason of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-harm," with "illness." The report noted that hanging was the cause in eight of the cases.

State-by-State 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 each had three deaths.

The rising number of First Nations deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing tragedy," the state's chief medical examiner has said.

In a recent statement, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this rising pattern was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "thorough and careful scrutiny, respect and accountability."

Demographic Details and Expert Response

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

A university expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the figures as reflecting a "national emergency" that needs "leadership and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple official inquiries with bereaved families, stated little has changed since the 1991's national inquiry that was established to tackle this issue.

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

From the time of the royal commission, a total of 600 Indigenous people have died in detention, which encompasses six in youth detention, as per the report.