🔗 Share this article

The tally of Indigenous people dying while in detention in Australia has climbed to its peak point since the beginning of official data began in 1980.

New figures reveal that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in custody in the 12-month period leading up to June were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. This represents an rise from 24 deaths in the prior corresponding period.

Indigenous Australian people remain grossly represented in the justice system. They constitute more than one-third of all prisoners, even though representing under 4% of the national population.

These concerning figures come to light more than three decades after a landmark inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which made numerous of proposed changes.

Detailed Analysis of the Recent Figures

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

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

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

The primary cause of First Nations deaths was categorised as "self-inflicted," followed by "natural causes." The report found that hanging was the method in eight of the deaths.

Geographic Breakdown

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 rising number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing tragedy," the state's coroner has remarked.

In a recent statement, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this rising trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "independent and careful examination, dignity and responsibility."

Demographic Details and Academic Reaction

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

A university expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as representing a "national crisis" that requires "leadership and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple coronial inquests with bereaved families, said very little has changed since the 1991 national inquiry that aimed to tackle this crisis.

"It's maddening to witness the number of investigations I attend, the number memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are three decades after the inquiry, and the situation is getting increasingly worse," she commented.

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