🔗 Share this article

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

Fresh statistics reveal that 33 of the 113 people who died in detention in the year leading up to June were Indigenous. This represents an uptick from 24 fatalities in the preceding equivalent period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain grossly overrepresented in the justice system. They make up over 33% of all prisoners, even though comprising under 4% of the national people.

These disturbing numbers emerge over three decades after a seminal inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which put forward numerous of recommendations.

Breakdown of the Recent Figures

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

A single death was in a juvenile facility, and the vast majority of the deceased were men.

The other six deaths happened in police custody, defined as when someone passes away while police are detaining them.

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

Geographic Distribution

The state of New South Wales had the greatest number of Indigenous deaths in prison custody with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory each had three deaths.

The growing number of First Nations deaths in custody in this state is a "deeply distressing reality," the state's coroner has said.

In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths required "thorough and careful examination, respect and accountability."

Demographic Information and Academic Reaction

The average age of those who died was 45 years, and eleven of the individuals were still waiting for a court sentencing.

A university expert, Amanda Porter, described the data as reflecting a "national emergency" that requires "decisive action and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended several coronial inquests with bereaved families, said very little has improved since the 1991 royal commission that was established to address this crisis.

"It's infuriating to see the number of investigations I attend, the number memorials families have to attend, and the fact that we are three decades after the royal commission, and the problem is getting progressively worse," she noted.

Since the royal commission, a approximately 600 First Nations people have died in detention, which encompasses six in youth detention, as per the report.