🔗 Share this article

The number of First Nations people dying while in detention in Australia has hit its record point since records began in 1980.

Recently released statistics show that 33 of the 113 individuals who passed away in custody 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 prior equivalent period.

Indigenous Australian people remain severely overrepresented in the justice system. They constitute more than one-third of all incarcerated individuals, despite comprising under 4% of the country's people.

These disturbing figures come to light over three decades after a pivotal royal commission into First Nations deaths in custody, which put forward hundreds of proposed changes.

Detailed Analysis of the Recent Statistics

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

One death was in youth detention, and the vast majority of the deceased were men.

The other six fatalities took place in police custody, defined as a situation where someone dies while police are detaining them.

The leading cause of Indigenous deaths was categorised 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 highest 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 increasing number of First Nations deaths in custody in New South Wales is a "profoundly distressing reality," the state's chief medical examiner has stated.

In October, Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan emphasised that this rising pattern was not "mere statistics" and that these deaths demanded "independent and careful examination, respect and accountability."

Profile Information and Academic Response

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

A criminal law expert, Amanda Porter, described the figures as reflecting a "national emergency" that needs "leadership and government action."

Ms. Porter, who has been present at multiple official inquiries with bereaved families, stated very little has changed since the 1991 royal commission that aimed to tackle this issue.

"It's maddening to witness the number of investigations I attend, the number funerals families have to attend, and the reality that we are 30 years after the inquiry, and the problem is getting progressively more severe," she noted.

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.