🔗 Share this article Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in the Nation Hit Highest Number Since 1980 Indigenous prisoners account for more than a third of the country's incarcerated population. The number of Indigenous people dying while in detention in Australia has climbed to its record point since records began in 1980. New data show that 33 of the 113 people who passed away in detention in the year ending in June have been identified as Indigenous. This represents an rise from 24 deaths in the prior equivalent period. Indigenous Australian people are severely represented in the justice system. They constitute over 33% of all prisoners, even though representing less than four per cent of the national population. These disturbing figures emerge more than three decades after a landmark inquiry into Indigenous deaths in custody, which made hundreds of proposed changes. Breakdown of the Latest Statistics Of the 33 Indigenous deaths in custody recorded between last July and this June, twenty-six took place while in a correctional facility, which is an rise from 18 in the previous year. One death was in youth detention, and the vast majority of the individuals were male. The other six fatalities happened in the custody of law enforcement, defined as a situation where someone passes away while police are holding or attempting to detain them. The main reason of Indigenous deaths was classified as "self-inflicted," with "illness." The data noted that asphyxiation was the cause in eight of the deaths. State-by-State Breakdown The Australian state of New South Wales had the highest number of Indigenous deaths in correctional facilities with nine, then Western Australia with six. Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory each had three deaths. The increasing number of First Nations deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "deeply distressing milestone," the state's coroner has stated. In October, Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan stressed that this upward trend was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "thorough and careful examination, dignity and responsibility." Demographic Details and Expert Response The average age of those who died was 45, and eleven of the deceased were still waiting for a sentence. A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, characterised the data as reflecting a "country-wide crisis" that needs "leadership and government action." Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple official inquiries with grieving families, stated little has changed since the 1991's royal commission that aimed to tackle this crisis. "It's heartbreaking to witness the number of inquests I attend, the number memorials families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years past the inquiry, and the situation is getting increasingly more severe," she commented. From the time of the royal commission, a total of 600 Indigenous people have lost their lives in custody, which includes six in youth detention, as per the findings.