Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in Australia Hit Record Level Since the Start of 1980

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

Fresh figures reveal that 33 of the 113 individuals who died in detention in the 12-month period ending in June were Indigenous. This marks an uptick from 24 deaths in the prior corresponding period.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain disproportionately overrepresented in the criminal justice system. They constitute more than one-third of all prisoners, despite comprising under 4% of the country's people.

These sobering numbers emerge over three decades after a pivotal inquiry into First Nations deaths in custody, which made hundreds of proposed changes.

Detailed Analysis of the Recent Figures

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

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

The other six deaths took place in police custody, defined as a situation where someone dies while police are holding or attempting to detain them.

The leading cause of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-inflicted," with "natural causes." The data found that hanging was the method in eight of the deaths.

Geographic Distribution

The Australian state of New South Wales had the greatest 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 growing number of Indigenous deaths in custody in this state is a "profoundly distressing tragedy," the state's coroner has remarked.

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

Demographic Details and Expert Reaction

The average age of those who died was 45, and 11 of the individuals were still waiting for a court sentencing.

A criminal law associate professor, Amanda Porter, characterised the figures as representing a "country-wide emergency" that needs "decisive action and political action."

Ms. Porter, who has attended multiple official inquiries with bereaved families, stated very little has improved since the 1991 national inquiry that aimed to address this crisis.

"It's infuriating to witness the number of inquests I attend, the number memorials families have to attend, and the fact that we are 30 years past the royal commission, and the situation is getting progressively worse," she noted.

From the time of the royal commission, a total of 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in detention, which includes six in youth detention, according to the report.