🔗 Share this article Indigenous Deaths in Custody in Australia Climb to Highest Level Since the Start of 1980 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees account for over 30% of the country's incarcerated population. The tally of Indigenous people losing their lives while in custody in Australia has reached its peak point since official data started in 1980. Fresh data show that 33 of the 113 individuals who passed away in detention in the 12-month period ending in June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This marks an uptick from 24 fatalities in the preceding corresponding period. Indigenous Australian people remain severely represented in the criminal justice system. They make up over 33% of all prisoners, despite representing less than four per cent of the country's population. These concerning numbers come to light over three decades after a pivotal inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of proposed changes. 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. One death occurred in youth detention, and the vast majority of the deceased were male. The other six fatalities took place in police custody, defined as a situation where someone dies while police are holding or attempting to detain them. The main cause of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-harm," with "illness." The data noted that hanging was the method in eight of the cases. Geographic Breakdown The state of New South Wales had the greatest number of Aboriginal deaths in correctional facilities 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 milestone," the state's chief medical examiner recently remarked. In October, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "thorough and careful examination, dignity and responsibility." Demographic Details and Expert Response The average age of those who died was 45 years, and eleven of the individuals were awaiting a court sentencing. A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as representing a "country-wide emergency" that requires "decisive action and government action." Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple official inquiries with grieving families, said very little has changed since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to address this issue. "It's infuriating to see the number of investigations I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades past the royal commission, and the problem is getting progressively more severe," she commented. Since the landmark inquiry, a approximately 600 First Nations people have lost their lives in custody, which encompasses six in youth detention, as per the findings.