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The tally of Indigenous people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has hit its record point since records started in 1980.

New data indicate that 33 of the 113 individuals who passed away in custody in the 12-month period ending in June were Indigenous. This marks an rise from 24 deaths in the prior corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain severely overrepresented in the justice system. They constitute more than one-third of all incarcerated individuals, even though representing less than four per cent of the national population.

These disturbing numbers come to light over three decades after a landmark inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of proposed changes.

Breakdown of the Latest Statistics

Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody logged between last July and this June, twenty-six occurred while in a correctional facility, which is an increase from 18 in the prior year.

One death occurred in youth detention, and all except one of the deceased were male.

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

The primary cause of Indigenous deaths was categorised as "self-harm," followed by "natural causes." The report noted that asphyxiation was the method in eight of the deaths.

Geographic Distribution

The state of New South Wales recorded the greatest number of Indigenous deaths in correctional facilities 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 New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing reality," the state's chief medical examiner has said.

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

Demographic Information and Expert Response

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

A university associate professor, Amanda Porter, described the data as representing a "country-wide emergency" that requires "leadership and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple official inquiries with grieving families, said little has improved since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to address this crisis.

"It's infuriating to see the number of inquests I attend, the many memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades after the inquiry, and the situation is getting increasingly more severe," she commented.

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